Police Invade Scene of Anti-Akume Peaceful Protest March, Assault Channels TV, AIT Journalists and Others

Men of the Nigerian police on Friday in Makurdi,the Benue state capital assaulted journalists from Channels TV and AIT who were covering a peaceful protest march against the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, George Akume by members of the Tiv Youth Organization (TYO).

Trouble began when the youths who were protesting against the continued attack and insult on the Tiv traditional ruler, Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse by Akume ended their protest march, and a team of Policemen from the Benue state Police Command in about four Hilux vans invaded the venue, seized cameras belonging to Channels TV and AIT crew before assaulting them.

Also assaulted were journalists from The Guardian, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), New Telegraph, Blueprint, The Authority and The Nation who were invited by the youth organization to cover the event while other security operatives, including the Department of State Service (DSS) watched.

The Policemen arrested six of the protesters and confiscated placards carried by the protesters some of which carried bold inscriptions: “Akume must apologize to the Tiv nation for insulting Tor Tiv”, “Tor Tiv must be respected”, Tiv Youths say no to insults on Tor Tiv”.

Attempts by the Policemen to arrest the President-General of the Benue socio-cultural organisation, Mdzough-U-Tiv, Mr. Edward Ujege, alongside his Secretary-General, Boniface Ukende, as well as President General of TYO, Timothy Hembaor, failed as they cleverly left the venue in the ensuing pandemonium.