Hoodlums Attack Journalists in Rivers State

Some Port-Harcourt based journalists have been attacked by hoodlums in the Rumuagholu community, Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The journalists said they were in the community to cover a media briefing on a disputed piece of land when they suddenly came under attack.

The victims of the attack, which happened on Tuesday, alleged that the hoodlums were aided by some officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Rivers State police command.

Narrating their ordeal, one of the journalists said “they came in the company of the police and immediately they finished, the police and the hoodlums left together.

“We were nine in number and we had reporters from Arise Tv, Sweet Crude, Surveillance Newspaper, Today Fm, Wish Fm, Atlantic Tv, RSTV.

“The RSVT cameraman was brutalized and we lost nine smartphones, they collected two HD Cameras, they collected everything from us, the police also took two journalists, from Sahara Reporters and Today Fm to their station but they were later released following the intervention of the Commissioner of Police and the police PRO and other of our colleagues.

“We made an entry at the state CID and we are expecting justice”.

Another victim of the attack added that “what happened to journalists on Tuesday was uncalled for. For a team of Anti Cultism to work with hoodlums to attack journalists is a very bad one. I want to ask the IGP, `where on earth do you see a policeman working with hoodlums to attack journalists?'”

Speaking further another attacked journalist said “this attack on journalists is something to be condemned. The most worrisome part is a situation where police are beginning to aid criminals to attack harmless journalists who went out for their normal job.

“We call on the Nigeria police to immediately unravel those who carried out this inhumane treatment on journalists, if not, I think they will meet us in court”.

According to the journalists, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, NNAMDI OMONI has promised to get to the root of the matter.

Also, the leadership of the Rivers State council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists has promised to ensure that justice was done in the matter.