THISDAY Reporter Attacked in Ebonyi by Suspected LG Chair’s Thugs

NUJ condemns attack, demands probe

Suspected political thugs yesterday attacked Ebonyi State reporter of the THISDAY Newspapers and former state Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benjamin Nworie, in his Ugwuechara residence in the state.

Nworie alleged that his attackers were loyalists of the Chairman of Ishielu Local Government Area, Mrs. Peace Agwu.

In a petition addressed to the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police and the state Director of the State Security Service (SSS), Nworie said the attackers, who were three in number, aggressively stormed his residence, knocked at his gate, and started unleashing the attack on him in front of his 8-year-old daughter and wife.

According to him, “I was attacked by three thugs of the Chairman of Ishielu LGA, Mrs. Peace Agwu, at my residence in Ugwuechara, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, at the early hours of today (yesterday).

“The thugs aggressively stormed my residence, knocked at my gate, and started quarrelling about why I  shifted used bamboos out of my entrance gate. I was beaten in front of my 8-year-old daughter and wife.

“As I was trying to explain and calm the riotous situation, which I removed the bamboo because it was on the entrance to my house, which nearly caused me an accident about three days ago, the thugs forcefully dragged and beat me, punching me severely on the face and mouth.

“They also threatened to kill my family and me. It took the intervention of the neighbours to save me from further attacks.

“I have suffered many damages since the council chairman started building her house.”

He added: “For several months, I have been parking my car in a nearby compound because of the way that building materials, including nails, planks, and bamboo, were scattered on the road leading to my house.

“Most times, I am the one who usually park some of the debris to enable me to drive out of my house.

Meanwhile, the state Chairman of NUJ, Samson Nwafor, has condemned the attack and called on security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.

The NUJ chairman said: “The attack left Nworie with bruises, and they even threatened to kill him. This is totally condemnable and unacceptable.

“While we have directed Nworie to quickly report the incident formally to the security agencies for necessary action, we are calling on the security agencies to act swiftly in this matter to bring the attackers to justice. This is very important because the safety and security of journalists should be prioritised in every sane society.

“We also urged the Ishielu Council Chairman, Mrs. Peace Agwu, to prove she was not involved in this unprovoked attack on Nworie, who is a native of Ishielu LGA, by providing the suspects, who are known to be her boys, to the security agents for prosecution.”