Naija News Publisher Alleges Assault, Theft By GIGM Staff In Anambra Over Ticket Dispute

A journalist and publisher of Naija News Today, Alefia Friday James, has accused officials of God Is Good Motors (GIGM) in Awka, Anambra State, of physically assaulting him and dispossessing him of cash and personal belongings after a dispute over a fully paid transport ticket.

SaharaReporters gathered that the incident occurred on the morning of Sunday, January 25, 2026, at the GIGM park in Awka, following an online booking he made the previous day for a trip from Awka to Abuja.

James said he booked the ticket on January 24 via GIGM’s online platform and paid ₦35,650, after which he received a booking receipt and confirmation without any issues.

However, upon arriving at the Awka park to commence his journey, James said GIGM staff informed him that the bus was already full, despite his confirmed booking.

“I asked how that was possible when I had a valid ticket, but nobody could explain,” he said.

He added that staff members subsequently told him he would be refunded. While the refund process was ongoing, James said he began recording a video of the situation for his personal safety and documentation.

He alleged that this action angered the Awka park manager, who forcefully seized his phone and began slapping him.

“The manager then called about five touts in the park, who joined him in beating me randomly,” James said, adding that he was attacked in full public view without provocation.

Following the assault, James said he discovered that his Moniepoint ATM card and ₦75,000 cash were missing. He maintained that the items were in his possession before the attack and went missing during the incident.

“I am traumatised, injured, and deeply disappointed that a company people trust can allow such violence, intimidation, and theft to happen within their premises, led by their own manager,” he stated.

James said he is speaking out to seek justice, alert the public, and prevent the matter from being ignored or covered up.

Earlier in January, James detailed his ordeal in police custody following his arrest and detention.

He accused a lawmaker, Chinedu Ogah, who represents Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, of using the police to intimidate, harass, and punish him for doing his job, turning his life upside down in a matter of hours.

He said his nightmare started without warning, leaving him feeling helpless and bewildered in his own home.

“On September 23, 2025, I was in my house when six police officers busted me. They tried to handcuff me and I asked them what the problem was. They told me they were police officers from the FCT Command and there was a petition against me. They said that I should come with them to answer the petition,” he recounted.

He stated that four of the six policemen who came to arrest him were fully armed. He also noted that prior the incident, the police had kept tracking him and monitoring his movements till they tracked him down to Lagos State.

According to him, during his arrest in Lagos, his pleas for due process fell on deaf ears, heightening his sense of injustice.

“I told them that they should have invited me, and that they can only come for an arrest if they invited me and I didn't come to the police station,” he said.

Alefia described how his personal space was violated as officers ransacked his room, leaving him feeling exposed and powerless.

“They scattered my room that day, collected my phone, my laptop, my passport and clothes,” he said.

He said the officers’ chilling remarks added a layer of fear he could not shake.

“When they were packing my clothes, they were telling me I wasn't coming back anytime soon,” he recalled.

He was first taken to Area F Command in Ikeja before being transferred to Abuja, each move amplifying his anxiety and uncertainty.

“That day, they moved me to Area F in Lagos, Ikeja command. I stayed at Area F for two days before I was moved to Abuja, the defunct SARS facility in Abuja. I spent six weeks in detention at the Abattoir,” he said.

While in custody, the journalist said he struggled to understand why his freedom had been taken away, feeling betrayed by the same officers meant to protect him.

WATCH: Naija News Publisher Alleges Assault, Theft By GIGM Staff In Anambra Over Ticket Dispute pic.twitter.com/K2GU6WjPgy

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) January 25, 2026