The Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has condemned in strong terms the attack on Journalists who were on official duty covering a press briefing in Yenagoa by suspected hired thugs yesterday.
The press briefing which was organized by the Sagbama Local Government Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), was invaded by hoodlums and some journalists escaped death and in the process some of them sustained various degrees of injuries as the hoodlums destroyed chairs while hitting those present at the event with rodes.
The union, in a statement signed by the Council Chairman, Comrade Samuel Numonengi and Secretary, Comrade Ogio Ipigansi described the unfortunate event as callous and barbaric and an attempt to prevent journalists from carrying out their legitimate duties to inform the public.
The statement called on security agents to investigate and fish out those involved in the ugly act for prosecution to serve as deterrent to others.
The statement urged politicians to always play by the rules to avoid this type of scenario.
The statement sympathizes with those injured especially members of the union and wished them quick recovery.
ND Connect had reported that Chairman of the Federated Correspondents' Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State Council, Mr Tife Owolabi, was among journalists who were attacked and injured when thugs destroyed chairs and flogged those present with rods at the venue of a press briefing organised by the Sagbama Local Government chapter of the All Progressives Congress in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Owolabi sustained injuries on his forehead and left hand while Jacobson Park of People's FM 93.1 was left with a swollen hand after he was hit with a flag pole.
Report indicates that everyone scampered for safety and the press briefing was temporarily halted until some security personnel 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.
The briefing later held with the Chairman, Sagbama Local Government Chapter of the APC, Jonah Abeke, announcing the indefinite suspension of seven members for alleged anti-party activities as the gale of suspensions in the party continued.
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.
Abeke said, "In the 2023 National Assembly, presidential and governorship elections in Bayelsa State they openly worked for Gov. Douye Diri and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party. They made no pretences about their anti-party activities.
"It is on this note that we, the under-signed executives of the Sagbama Local Government Area (APC), hereby suspend them indefinitely from the party.
"Their suspension is hereby transmitted to the State Executive Committee of our party for ratification."
Abeke also condemned the attack on the journalists who were invited to cover the press briefing.
