Wahala don burst for Ebonyi State as suspected political thugs attack Benjamin Nworie, di state correspondent of THISDAY Newspapers and former Vice Chairman of di Nigeria Union of Journalists for di state. Di incident happen for Monday morning for di journalist house for Ugwuechara area of Abakaliki.
According to Nworie, three men storm him house for early morning. Dem confront am near di bamboo wey dey him entrance before dem start to beat am well-well. Di journalist talk say di thugs drag am, beat am and punch am severely for face and mouth. Dem even threaten to kill am and him family. Na only di intervention of neighbours save am from more beating.
For him petition wey him send to di Ebonyi State Council of di Nigeria Union of Journalists and copy di Correspondents’ Chapel, Nworie allege say di attackers na loyalists of Peace Agwu, di Chairman of Ishielu Local Government Area. Him talk say him don dey experience repeated wahala because of construction activities wey him link to di council chairman, wey don block access to him house.
Di journalist raise concern about him safety and call on him colleagues and security agencies to intervene. “I want to call on my colleagues and security agencies to be aware that my life and that of my family are now in danger as a result of the attacks and threats,” Nworie talk for him petition.
But di LG chairman, Peace Agwu, don deny di allegation completely. She talk say na false accusation and challenge di journalist to provide evidence linking her to di attack. “It is a false allegation. I didn’t send anybody to attack him. He should bring evidence of his claim,” Agwu talk.
Di case don cause tension for Ebonyi State as journalists and human rights activists dey call for proper investigation. Di Nigeria Union of Journalists for di state don condemn di attack and call on security agencies to find di perpetrators and bring dem to justice.
Journalists for Nigeria don face plenty attacks and intimidation for recent times, especially during political periods. Many organizations wey dey fight for press freedom don express concern about di safety of journalists for di country.
Security experts talk say di attack on Nworie na serious matter wey need urgent attention. Dem advise journalists to always be security conscious and report any threat to appropriate authorities. Dem also call on government to provide better protection for journalists wey dey do their work.
As di matter dey now, both Nworie and Agwu don state their positions. Di police and other security agencies for Ebonyi State don begin investigation into di matter to find out wetin actually happen and who responsible for di attack.
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