Several journalists and activists were taken hostage by armed thugs in Ogoni, Rivers State, today, who then handed them over to the police.
Several journalists and activists were taken hostage by armed thugs in Ogoni, Rivers State, today, who then handed them over to the police.
The bizarre incident took place when the group arrived in the Ogoni territory to witness a huge protest which was organized by aggrieved Ogonis from the communities of Sogho, Ueken, Korokoro and others whose farmlands are being surveyed by heavily armed military men for the purpose of establishing a military cantonment.
The protest started from Sogho community in the Khana Local Government Area of Ogoni, spread to other parts of Ogoni land, such as Korokoro, in the Tai Local Government Area. In Korokoro, heavily-armed thugs associated with a known paramount ruler beat up the journalists and activists and reportedly confiscated their equipment, including cameras and mobile phones.
They were then handed over to a police team of 10 from the nearby police post in Nonwa in the Tai Local Governmnet Area of Ogoni, Rivers State, who were lurking around.
Among those arrested was Mr. Tekena Amaofiori, a correspondent of the African Independent Television (AIT), and his camera man, whose name is not yet available; Michael Kanikpo, a lawyer who is also the convener of The Ogoni Civil Society Platform (OGCSP); a member of the Ogoni Solidarity Forum (OSF) referred to as Fineface, and others whose identities were not known at the time of this report.
The police, who are still holding the journalists and activists, refused to speak to our correspondent on the matter.
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