Suspected Political Thugs Disrupt Arise News Interview at Rivers State Hotel

Suspected political thugs on Friday night attacked a hotel in the Orazi area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, disrupting a live Arise News Television interview with a former Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa.

The Arise News TV crew was conducting the interview at the hotel when the assailants stormed the premises as Nwibubasa spoke on the political situation in the state.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers, who were reportedly armed, forced their way into several rooms around 9:15 p.m., allegedly searching for the former commissioner and the Arise News cameraman.

“They were chanting in their local language, breaking doors and collecting people’s phones. Hotel staff and guests started running,” an eyewitness told PUNCH.

The assailants later located the area where the interview was ongoing and threatened Nwibubasa and members of the Arise News crew, forcing an abrupt end to the live broadcast.

A member of the Arise News team said he received a distress call from a colleague and alerted the police.

“I called the police control room and informed some colleagues. When I arrived at the hotel, the Divisional Police Officer and his men were already there,” he said.

He added that, with the assistance of the hotel manager, the police escorted Nwibubasa and the journalist to the Kala Police Station, where statements were taken.

An Arise News cameraman, identified as Promise, said several pieces of his equipment were seized during the attack.

“They took my Sony Canada Z280 camera, industrial tripod, wireless microphone and other accessories,” he said.

Promise said the incident occurred shortly after he had completed filing a report from an earlier assignment and began the live interview on the programme News Night.

“I had just finished filing when two men came in and disrupted the interview,” he said, adding that the attackers fled when police officers arrived.

Nwibubasa later confirmed that he was unharmed and credited the police for intervening. He condemned the attack, describing it as a threat to democratic expression.

“I was concluding the interview and talking about the 2027 general elections. This is already showing what may come. They were breaking down doors looking for me. This is supposed to be a free society,” he said.