The Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalist, Bayelsa State Chapter, Comrade Samuel Numonengi has condemned in strong terms the attack on Journalists who were on official duty covering a press briefing on Sunday in Yenagoa by suspected hired thugs.
The press briefing which was organized by the Sagbama Local Government Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Da Crib Hotel, was invaded by hoodlums where some journalists escaped death by whiskers. Some of them sustained various degrees of injuries while running for their lives.
Numonengi called on security agents to investigate and fish out those involved in the ugly act for prosecution to serve as deterrent to others and urged politicians to always play by the rules to avoid this type of scenario.
In a statement signed by the Council Chairman, Comrade Samuel Numonengi and Secretary, Comrade Ogio Ipigansi, Numonengi described the unfortunate event as callous and barbaric and an attempt to prevent journalists from carrying out their legitimate duties to inform the public.
He sympathized with those injured especially members of the union and wished them quick recovery.
Chairman of the Federated Correspondents' Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr Tife Owolabi, who was among the journalists injured, said the hoodlums invaded the venue shortly after the briefing commenced and destroyed chairs while hitting those present at the event with rods.
Owolabi disclosed that he bled from the forehead and left hand while Jacobson Park of People's FM 93.1 had a swelling in his hand where he was hit with a flagstaff.
He said, "Everyone scampered for safety and the press briefing was temporarily halted until security men including the Operation Doo Akpo, the state security outfit, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigerian Police, arrived Da Crib Hotel, venue of the event."
Meanwhile, seven members of the APC were indefinitely suspended from the party for alleged anti-party activities as the gale of suspensions in the party continued.
This was announced by the Chairman, Sagbama local government chapter of the APC, Jonah Abeke, during the press briefing which later held after the attack by the suspected hired thugs.
Those suspended are Barr. Peres Peretu, Hon. Matthew Karimo, Major Oputa, Hon. Tangi Samuel, King Bolouyi Sufadoh, Hon. Goodluck Ebomu and Hon. Youdio-gwei Benjamin.
