Suspected political thugs on Friday night invaded a popular hotel (name withheld) in the Orazi axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, disrupting a live television interview.
It was gathered that an ARISE TV crew was conducting a live interview with a former Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa, when the assailants stormed the premises.
Nwibubasa was reportedly speaking on the prevailing political situation in the state at the time of the incident.
Eyewitnesses said the thugs, who were allegedly armed, broke into rooms at about 9:15 p.m., reportedly searching for the former commissioner and the ARISE TV cameraman.
“They were chanting in their local language, forcing doors open and seizing people’s phones. Hotel workers began running helter-skelter,” an eyewitness said.
It was further learnt that the assailants eventually located the spot where the interview was ongoing and issued threats to the former commissioner and the ARISE TV crew, forcing an abrupt termination of the live broadcast.
One of the reporters with the ARISE TV crew told our correspondent that he received a distress call from his colleague and immediately rushed to the hotel.
“At that point, I contacted the police control room and also alerted some colleagues. The police responded and said they were on their way,” he said.
He added that by the time he arrived, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area was already on ground with his men.
“Together with the hotel manager, they ensured that the former commissioner and the journalist were escorted out of the hotel and taken to the Kala Police Station,” he said.
According to him, the police had taken statements from the victims as of the time of filing this report.
Speaking separately, an ARISE TV cameraman, identified as Promise, said some of his professional equipment was seized during the incident.
“The men seized my Sony Z280 camera, industrial tripod, wireless microphone and other accessories,” he said.
Expressing shock over the attack, Promise explained that he had just filed a report from an earlier assignment before commencing the live interview.
“I had just submitted that report and immediately started the interview with the former commissioner on a programme called News Night when two men stormed the place and disrupted the live broadcast,” he added.
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