On October 21, 2020, in the wake of the #EndSARS protests by Nigerian youths for police reform in Nigeria, suspected hoodlums attacked offices of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation newspapers on FataiAtere Way, in Matori area of Mushin in Lagos State and the premises of Television Continental Communications housing a radio station, Max FM and a television station, Television Continental (TVC) in Ketu. They destroyed property in the compounds and set the media houses ablaze.
Both newspaper, radio and television houses are owned by Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos and a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on the attack on The Nation newspaper house, AdeniyiAdesina, the newspaper editor said in a statement that the armed attackers arrived in a “commando-like manner” in the afternoon. Adeniyi said they kicked their way into the premises brandishing sophisticated weapons, scared away security men on duty, poured petrol on the frontage of the building and set it ablaze,
“Some of the vehicles parked within the premises were set ablaze, others vandalised,” the editor said.
“Many boys came thereafter and swooped on the office, looting everything they could lay their hands on. These include desktop computers, laptops, air conditioners and other office equipment.”
The editor disclosed that at the time of the attack, the newspaper’s Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Victor Ifijeh, was among those trapped within the office while the fire raged on.
