The journalists from The Sun, Television Continental (TVC), Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), said they had gone to assess the aftermath of a reported clash between some youths and chiefs allegedly in the community.
Some journalists who were attacked and brutally assaulted in Opu Nembe, in the Nembe Local Government Area of the Bayelsa State by hoodlums last Tuesday have recounted how they narrowly escaped from the jaws of death.
The journalists from The Sun, Television Continental (TVC), Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), said they had gone to assess the aftermath of a reported clash between some youths and chiefs allegedly in the community.
Narrating their ordeal, Joseph Kunde of TVC said about six of them from the four media houses went for an official assignment in the community, following news that peace had been restored and with confidence that there were security operatives on the ground to ensure security.
Kunde said some security officers escorted them up to a point while the exiled chiefs were taking them around the destroyed houses in the community.
However, Kunde added that they didn't know they were being monitored while in the community
He said, “As we were rounding off, the exiled chiefs took us through some footpaths which the police vehicle could not access and because we were not familiar with the terrain, we had no idea the hoodlums were monitoring us and took advantage of that.
“We all ran for our safety when they came. One of my colleagues from AIT had to pretend to be dead after she was hit so badly. I ran for safety to a house where I was kept safe by a woman and her children for not less than an hour.
“I had to give them money to go and confirm at three different times if the hoodlums had gone before I could come out of my hiding. They described the safest route for me to get out safely, although I still encountered some hoodlums I was able to pull through until I found a police checkpoint.
“Meanwhile, I was following up on my cameraman who unfortunately was not as lucky as I was. By the time he came out of hiding, he ran into the hoodlums, they snatched his camera, microphone and every other personal item he had on him. They tore his clothes, beat him and treated him like a common criminal, alongside some of the chiefs. He even lost two of his teeth in the process.”
Also recounting her experience, Iniyekenime Doctor Bruce of AIT corroborated Kunde’s account, saying, “Following reports that peace had been restored to Nembe Basambiri, I was called by some concerned chiefs so as to cover the damages caused during the crisis.
“In the course of carrying out my duty, I was ambushed by boys bearing guns and machetes, I then took to my heels and ran for my life. While running I fell, hit my head on the ground and couldn't stand up so I pretended as though I was dead. They took my camera, phone and tripod. I heard some saying "She is dead and they left me”.
Similarly, Femi Folaranmi of The Sun said as soon as the hoodlums ambushed them, he alongside his colleague from NTA ran to find a place to hide.
Folaranmi said, “We later came out and ran to where we were able to locate police officials who rescued us from the boys. Unfortunately, some of my other colleagues were not as lucky as we were, as they were severely dealt with by the hoodlums.”
On how they were rescued, Kunde said that when he eventually located the police who were escorting them before they were attacked, the police officers escorted him to rescue some of his colleagues by shooting into the air and using tear gas to disperse the hoodlums.
Bruce said she was rescued with the help of a lady who also later robbed her but she managed to escape, while Egein and the NTA cameraman were rescued by community members.
They were all taken to the hospital and also formally reported the incident to the police.
Reacting to the incident, the Press Freedom Officer of the International Press Centre (IPC), Melody Akinjiyan, in a statement on Monday expressed grave concern over the attack and many other attacks on journalists across the country yet to be resolved.
Akinjiyan in the statement said that although the police helped in ameliorating the situation of the journalists, “it was still worrisome that the hoodlums could succeed in inflicting such degree of injury on the journalists.
She noted that the incident was particularly disturbing with the off-cycle elections in the state in view, and therefore urged the Bayelsa State Police Command to thoroughly investigate the incident and ensure that justice is done, and that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
She also urged the state police command to ensure that peace is fully restored in the community, while imploring all journalists, especially those covering the off-cycle elections to take safety precautions while carrying out their assignments.