Nigerian photographer shot by unidentified assailants

Unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle shot Callistus Ewelike at close range in front of his house in Nyanya, Abuja, at night on January 13, 2014, news reports said. The journalist’s neighbours rushed him to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery for injuries to his neck, the reports said. The assailants did not take any of Ewelike’s personal items.

Ewelike, a photojournalist with the state-run News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), had just returned from covering the commissioning of a power project by President Goodluck Jonathan, according to news reports. Ewelike also works as Jonathan’s official photographer.

Altine Daniel, a spokesman for the police, said an investigation into the attack had begun, according to news reports.

Weeks earlier, gunmen had robbed Ewelike at his home and seized his camera, laptop, and other personal belongings, according to news reports.