The transition from the classroom to the field was not just a simple shift in career for me; it was a defining moment that shaped my journey as a journalist. Looking back now, one of my earliest assignments in the field stands out as a very powerful experience that left a lasting impression on me.
On one particular day in May 2024, while on my way to work, I noticed smoke and unrest in a nearby area around Ile Epo. Out of curiosity and professional instinct, I called my boss about this heavy smoke and if I could go check what was happening and he gave me the go ahead. When I moved closer, I found out that it was a serious disturbance in the community. I began trying to document what was happening by taking pictures.
However, I was met with hostility from some individuals (agbero), who tried to intimidate me and stop me from recording the scene. At the time, I still did not fully understand the scale of what was happening. Later, I learned that it was a violent clash between groups that had escalated badly, leading to serious consequences, including reports of sexual violence, which further intensified the situation.
As the situation developed, it became so severe that police authorities had to intervene. I went to the police to ask questions in my capacity as a journalist, but instead of getting answers, I was threatened with 'arrest.' I insisted that I was only doing my job and had every right to seek information, but the response I received was intimidating enough that I had to step back.
Even after leaving, I still continued trying to document the situation. At another point, while taking photos and videos, I was again confronted by an angry agbero who warned me not to “get him into trouble,” claiming that something similar had happened to someone else who tried to record the incident.
I was scared at the time, but I also found a way to explain myself. Eventually, the man understood that I was a registered journalist, and he became more open, giving me further information about what had taken place.
That experience gave me a new level of boldness and confidence in the field. Later on, during another assignment, I was stopped by military personnel, but the earlier encounter with the police had already strengthened my courage and prepared me to handle such situations more calmly.
One of the key lessons I took from journalism training is that while a reporter must pursue the truth and report the news, no story is ever worth losing your life for. These early experiences taught me that courage is important in journalism, but safety and wisdom are even more important.
In the end, those moments in the field shaped not only my confidence but also my understanding of responsibility as a journalist, to tell stories, but to always protect my life while doing so.
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