Suspected thugs storm Rivers hotel, disrupt live Arise TV interview

An associate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa, was reportedly assaulted on Friday night by suspected political thugs while appearing on a live television programme in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The incident occurred at a hotel location that was not disclosed, where Nwibubasa was participating in a live interview. He is also the coordinator of a socio-political advocacy group known as the Rivers Liberation Movement (RLM).

In a statement released on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Nwibubasa alleged that the attackers claimed allegiance to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike. According to him, the situation escalated to the point where officers of the Rivers State Police Command had to intervene collectively to facilitate his safe exit from the venue.

The statement read: “At approximately 9:15 p.m. last night, while participating in a live television interview with Arise TV at a hotel premises in Port Harcourt, I was violently attacked by a group of men who identified themselves as being from Obio/Akpor local government area and who openly claimed loyalty to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike.

“The assailants disrupted the live broadcast, forcefully seized and carted away the Arise TV camera and other broadcast equipment, and threatened my life as well as that of the Arise TV correspondent.

Although both the journalist and I narrowly escaped physical harm, the attackers went further to break into hotel rooms, vandalize property, and steal personal belongings of hotel staff while actively searching for us.

“Throughout this ordeal, the attackers loudly chanted that I would not leave the hotel alive for daring to speak against Barr. Nyesom Wike, whom they claimed is an indigene of the community where the interview was taking place. This was a clear, deliberate, and premeditated threat to life, as well as a brazen assault on press freedom and democratic expression.

“It took the coordinated intervention of multiple police response teams to extract us safely from the area.

I wish to express my profound gratitude to the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, and his officers for their prompt response to our distress calls, which undoubtedly saved our lives. I also deeply appreciate the management of Arise TV, whose tireless efforts ensured that both their correspondent and I were brought to safety.”

Nwibubasa further urged the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, to ensure that everyone connected to the incident is brought to justice.

He said: “I hereby formally appeal to the Commissioner of Police to ensure that all those involved in this criminal attack are identified, arrested, and prosecuted, and that the stolen Arise TV camera and other properties are urgently recovered.

“Let me state unequivocally to the misguided and gullible followers of the FCT Minister: intimidation, violence, and threats will not deter us from pursuing the legitimate struggle for the liberation and good governance of Rivers State.

“What occurred last night was not just an attack on me it was a direct assault on the constitutional right to free speech as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Rather than silence us, this act of barbarism will only amplify our voices.

“I call on the Governor of Rivers State to urgently and decisively address this dangerous trend of political violence before it plunges our state into avoidable crisis. I also call on civil society organizations, the media, and all lovers of democracy to unequivocally condemn this reprehensible act.

“Rivers State belongs to all its people. No individual, group, or ethnic nationality has a superior claim to it. We must not allow lawlessness, intimidation, and political thuggery to define our future.”