Ikechukwu Ibe of Daily Trust photographer named Photo Journalist of the Year- WSCIJ

A Daily Trust photographer, Mr. Ikechukwu Ibe, was yesterday named Photo Journalist of the Year by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCiJ).
Ikechukwu won with the photograph of soldiers manhandling a man suspected to be a thief along Mararaba Road in Abuja. The award took place in Lagos at the 10th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting.
The photograph, which was published in the Daily Trust, attracted widespread concern within and outside Nigeria.

It prompted the setting up of a panel by the force headquarters to investigate the incident. The award was first held in October 2005 to encourage the development of investigative journalism in the Nigerian media through rigorous scrutiny of human rights violations, regulatory failures and corruption in the public and corporate sectors of the nation.
The centre was named after Professor Wole Soyinka in recognition of his efforts in support of the freedom of expression, freedom to hold opinion and freedom to impart them without fear or favour, hindrance or interference.

Soyinka said an anniversary is usually a time for stock taking. 
“I have become increasingly convinced that one crucial service that an investigative arm can render to its overall organisation is one of introspection”, he said, adding: “The electronic media is being taken over by a bunch of mindless, ill-motivated new barbarism, totally without scruples, without sensibility, without the slightest shred of decency, and without any sense of obligation to truth. It would be tragic if society becomes so cynical that it responds to hard-won respect with the ancient adage: Physician, heal thyself”.

The WSCiJ also honoured the former INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega with the National Anti-Corruption Defender award while a veteran broadcaster, Mrs. Bimbo Oloyede, received the Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence.