Journalist Alex Ogbu, was covering the Shiite protest in the capital Abuja, when he was shot and killed allegedly by a bullet that was fired by the police at the scene. According to local sources, the police fired “teargas canisters and live ammunition at random," at the protesters.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ Federal Capital Territory, Emmanuel Ogbeche, said in a statement: “It is heart rending to know that yet another journalist was killed in this seeming unending orgy of bloodletting in Abuja and other parts of the country. Is this a pattern where journalists become victims in the legitimate pursuit of their profession as reporters?”
The Secretary General of the IFJ, Anthony Bellanger said: “We condemn this indiscriminate use of lethal force which caused an unnecessary loss of life. This is one killing too many and the authorities in Nigeria must do their utmost to ensure that those responsible for the killing of Alex Ogbu are arrested and brought to justice. The Nigerian Government must ensure journalists’ safety while covering protests. “
On 23 July 2019,another journalist, Precious Owolabi, was covering a protest of the Shiite Islamic Movement when he was hit by a stray bullet that killed him instantly.