Suspected political thugs invaded a hotel in the Obio/Akpor area of Rivers State on Friday, disrupting a live interview being conducted by Arise News.
The crew was interviewing Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa, a former commissioner and critic of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, when armed men stormed the premises.
Dawn Herald gathered that the gunmen reportedly searched guest rooms, seizing broadcasting equipment before fleeing as the police arrived.
The attack occurred amid a verbal war between supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and those loyal to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Eyewitness revealed that the attack was triggered by Nwibubasa’s comments regarding the 2027 elections, which were being broadcast live on the News Night program.
The Arise TV crew reported the loss of a Sony Z280 camera, tripods, and wireless microphones, silencing the live broadcast.
Eyewitnesses narrated that the thugs were chanting in Ikwerre language, forcing the hotel doors to open in a hunt for the former commissioner and the cameraman.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for the area personally led the rescue mission, successfully extracting the journalist and the politician to safety at the Kala Police Station.
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