Eight journalists from different media organisations yesterday received the beating of their lives and were held hostage for several hours by armed thugs from Okpai community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State.
Among the journalists held hostage were Felix Igbekoyi (Daily Independent), Paul Osuyi (Sun), Dominic Adewole (New Telegraph), Okungbowa Aiwerie (Nation), Ochuko Akuopha (Vanguard), Charles Shola (Rainbow), Vincent Anikushe (The Pointer) and Cyril Obi (DBS, Asaba).
The journalists also in the process had all their belongings such as laptops, iPads, phones, handsets, digital recorders, Sony Video Z1 Camera and undisclosed amount of money carted away by the thugs.
The journalists, our correspondent learnt, were at Ase-Omoku community to cover a protest against an oil exploration company, Sterling Global Oil Service, over alleged breaches of the Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, entered with the community when they were attacked.
Trouble started when a section of the youths intercepted the vehicle conveying the journalists at IPP junction, Okpai, ordered them out and made them to sit on the ground for several hours while mobilising their colleagues to the scene.
Explanation by the journalists on their mission fell on deaf ears as the thugs started humiliating them while making calls to Deputy Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Mr. Friday Osanebi, who represents Ndokwa East.
“After a while, some leaders of the thugs pleaded with their colleagues to release us on ground that Mr. Osanebi had already intervened. “They forced us into their car, asked us to reverse and forget the mission.
But just about two kilometres from the IPP junction, three of the thugs, who were apparently armed, waylaid our vehicle, hijacked it and led us into the beating arms of another set of thugs, who had blocked the road with about 40 motorcycles.”
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