Armed youths believed to be political thugs invaded a hotel in the Orazi axis of Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Friday night, disrupting a live television interview being broadcast by Arise Television and carting away broadcast equipment.
The incident occurred while Arise TV crew were conducting a live interview with former Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Leloonu Nwibubasa, during the programme News Night. According to sources at the scene, the assailants forced the live broadcast to end abruptly and seized cameras and other technical equipment belonging to the station.
It was alleged that Nwibubasa was discussing the political situation in Rivers State and expressing views that did not align with those of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, when a man in the hotel lounge reportedly alerted the attackers.
A source who spoke anonymously said the armed youths stormed the hotel at about 9:15 pm and began searching for both the former commissioner and members of the Arise TV crew. “They were chanting in Ikwerre that they would not allow such an interview on their land. They were forcing doors open, searching for the former commissioner and the Arise TV guys,” the source said, adding that hotel staff and guests fled in panic.
The source further stated that Nwibubasa and the Arise cameraman narrowly escaped, as the assailants broke into rooms claiming the interview was “anti Wike” and should not have been conducted in the area. “They later got to the spot where the interview was holding and started threatening the former commissioner and the Arise crew to discontinue the interview and forced them to stop,” the source added.
Arise TV reporter Andy Omano, who also escaped the scene, said he contacted the police for help. “At that point I called the police control room and also put a call across to some of my colleagues. The police responded and said they were on their way to the hotel,” he said.
According to Omano, the Divisional Police Officer arrived with officers and, together with the hotel manager, ensured that the former commissioner and the journalist were safely escorted out of the hotel to Kala Police Station, where statements were taken.
The Arise TV cameraman, Promise, recounted that the attackers seized his Sony Canada Zed 280 camera, industrial tripod, wireless microphone, and other accessories. “I had just filed a report before starting the interview when two men stormed the place and disrupted the live programme,” he said, noting that the assailants fled when police arrived.
Nwibubasa condemned the attack, describing it as dangerous for democracy. “I was already rounding off the interview and speaking about the forthcoming 2027 general elections. They are already showing us signs of what will happen. See how they were breaking doors looking for me. Why? This is a free society,” he said.
