Armed Thugs Invade Rivers Hotel, Disrupt Arise TV Live Broadcast, Cart away Equipment

Armed youths suspected to be political thugs on Friday night stormed a hotel in the Orazi area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, forcibly disrupting a live Arise Television broadcast and making away with broadcasting equipment.

The incident occurred while an Arise TV crew was conducting a live interview with a former Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa, during the programme News Night. The interview was reportedly focused on the political situation in the state.

Witnesses said the assailants abruptly ended the live broadcast and seized a camera and other technical equipment belonging to the television station. It was alleged that the attack followed comments made during the interview which the assailants believed were critical of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

According to a source who requested anonymity, the armed youths invaded the hotel around 9:15 p.m., chanting in the Ikwerre language and insisting that such an interview would not be allowed in the area. The source said the attackers forcefully entered rooms within the hotel in search of Dr Nwibubasa and members of the Arise TV crew, triggering panic among hotel staff and guests.

“They were forcing doors open, searching for the former commissioner and the journalists. Workers and guests were running in all directions. When they got to where the interview was being conducted, they threatened the crew and ordered them to stop the programme immediately,” the source said.

An Arise TV reporter at the scene, Andy Omano, said he contacted the police control room and alerted colleagues after narrowly escaping the attack. He added that the police responded promptly to the distress call.

The Divisional Police Officer for the area later arrived at the hotel with officers. With the assistance of the hotel management, the former commissioner and the journalists were escorted out of the premises and taken to the Kala Police Station, where statements were taken.

Narrating his experience, the Arise TV cameraman, Promise, said the attackers carted away his Sony Z280 broadcast camera, an industrial tripod, wireless microphones and other accessories. He said the assailants fled the scene upon the arrival of the police.

As of the time of this report, there was no official statement from the Rivers State Police Command on the incident.