By Austin Ogwuda
NO fewer than five journalists narrowly escaped death while covering the nation wide hunger protests in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria, today (Thursday) following a massive attack by some anti-protesters suspected to be loyal to the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP) government of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
The sad incident took place at Inter- Bau by ShopRite Complex.
Reacting sharply to the grave allegation, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, said “PDP did not hire thugs to attack journalist or disrupt any protest”.
The Townhall gathered that the protest was peaceful until a group of anti-protesters alleged to have been hired by the State government arrived at about 11. 20am and started chasing the protesters away while, ironically, heavily armed policemen posted there looked away.
Rough-handled were in the presence of security agencies were a well known Investigative Journalist, Prince Amour Udemude; Matthew Ochei and Monday Osayabde of Punch and Guardian Newspapers respectively and others.
According to an eye witness account “as the anti-protesters were manhandling one of the pro-protesters, the leader of the alleged PDP thugs saw Amour recording and immediately jacked him on his jean trousers and other thugs joined in attacking him demanding for his phone.
“At this stage the Pointer Newspaper Reporter, Mrs. Lucy Ezeliora sneaked out after she was slapped and rushed to fetch Military officers from nearby for intervention and it took a swift intervention of an Army personnel to rescue Amour and other Journalists.
Contacted, the State Commissioner for Information, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza told The Townhall that “This allegation is not true. The PDP did not send anyone, talk less of sending thugs to attack journalists covering the protest today.
“Some very responsible and well meaning Delta youths were peacefully singing and dancing around the area for over two hours, under the very watchful, vigilant and cooperative presence of security personnel and journalists, when a bunch of unruly youths, acting on their own volition, approached them menacingly with the obvious intention of disrupting their assembly.
“PDP”, he went on, “did not hire thugs to attack journalist or disrupt any protest. This allegation is obviously the handiwork of detractors, sponsored by those whose intention, as had already been speculated, was obviously to hijack the peaceful protest and cause mayhem, in order to give the State government a bad name. But the security agents acted promptly as they had promised, and immediately dispersed the unruly trouble makers”.
As at the time of this report, the leadership of the Delta State Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ was yet to issue a statement on the matter.