JUST IN: Journalists Injured As Thugs Attack APC Event

AMILOADED MEDIA HUB NEWS UPDATE

Some journalists on Sunday, October 13, were injured when hired thugs disrupted a press briefing held by the Sagbama Local Government Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.

Among the injured was Mr. Tife Owolabi, Chairman of the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State Council.

The attackers destroyed chairs and assaulted those present with rods, leaving Owolabi bleeding from his forehead and left hand.

Jacobson Park of People’s FM 93.1 also sustained injuries, suffering a swollen hand after being struck with a flagstaff.

Attendees fled the venue, and the press briefing was temporarily suspended until security forces, including Operation Doo Akpo, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Police, arrived at Da Crib Hotel, the location of the event.

The briefing eventually resumed, with the Chairman of the Sagbama Local Government Chapter of the APC, Jonah Abeke, announcing the indefinite suspension of seven members for alleged anti-party activities, in line with ongoing suspensions within the party.

Those suspended include 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 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State they openly worked for Governor 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 assignment.