Opu-Nembe crisis: Police rescue abducted TVC reporters, others …As hoodlums attack journalists, confiscate cameras

A yet to be identified hoodlums armed with sophisticated weapons and other dangerous items, on Monday evening, reportedly attacked journalists who where in Opu-Nembe for on-the-spot assessment in Nembe LGA of Bayelsa state.

NAIJA LIVE TV gathered that the journalists were being taken around to see properties of some exiled Chiefs destroyed by some youths of the community when the hoodlums struck with sophisticated arms and dangerous weapons from every corner, making the journalists to scamper for safety.

The attacked journalists include Mr Joseph Kunde of TVC and his cameraman, Mr Bina Miebi, Mr Awe Baratuapere of NTA and his cameraman, Mr Ayebakuro Egein, Mrs Iniyekenime Doctor Bruce of Daar Communications and Mr Femi Folaranmi of The Sun Newspaper.

It was revealed that after being taken round to see the level of destruction of properties before the deployment of Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT), the journalists were at the last destroyed building belonging to the regent when boys armed with sophisticated arms and dangerous weapons appeared from all corners.  

The Police team led by its Unit Commander, Mr Silas, in swift response, engaged the hoodlums in a shoot-out which led to the subsequent rescue of the journalists who were trapped in different locations.

The cameras belonging to the TVC cameraman, Mr Miebi, and that of Mrs Iniyekenime Doctor Bruce of Daar Communications were reportedly taken by the hoodlums. Though Miebi was rescued by the security operatives after a gun dual with the hoodlums, he was reportedly beaten, stripped of his dress and had his hands tied behind his back and legs when the hoodlums discovered him to be a TVC cameraman.

Mrs Iniyekenime who was also stripped of her camera and phones, was reportedly helped to escape to the nearby Ogbolomabiri where the Police team led by Mr Silas rescued and brought her to the Police base. While the  owner of the house, the NTA cameraman, Mr Egein took refuge, told the Police team that Egein was safe but insisted that he won’t divulge the location because of fear that hoodlums attack.

The Police team led by Mr Silas, at about 12.30 am, escorted the journalists out of the community to Yenagoa using six hilux vans loaded with armed Policemen. While the Police has intensified efforts to recover the cameras, Mr Egein, the only journalist who was left behind has also returned to Yenagoa safely.

NAIJA LIVE TV gathered that the hoodlums were loyalist to a prominent youth leader in the Community.

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