Thugs attack journalists at Bayelsa APC press briefing

There was chaos in Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State over the weekend when some hired thugs entered and disrupted a press briefing organized by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the council, attacking and wounding some journalists and party leaders.

Mr. Tife Owolabi, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ Federated Correspondents’ Chapel, Bayelsa State Council, was among those injured, as was Jacobson Park of People’s FM 93.1.

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

Attendees evacuated the location, and the 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, where the meeting was held.

The briefing ultimately resumed, with Jonah Abeke, Chairman of the APC Sagbama, announcing the indefinite suspension of seven members for alleged anti-party activities, in keeping with the party’s ongoing sanctions.

Suspended individuals include Peres Peretu, Matthew Karimo, Major Oputa, Tangi Samuel, King Bolouyi Sufadoh, Goodluck Ebomu, and 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, PDP. They made no pretences about their anti-party activities.

“It is on this note that we, the undersigned executives of the Sagbama 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.