ARISE News has reported that suspected political thugs on Friday night invaded Londa Hotel in the Orazi axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, violently disrupting a live television interview being broadcast by the station.
According to ARISE News, the incident occurred while its crew was conducting a live interview with a former Rivers State Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa, who was speaking on the political situation in the state.
Eyewitnesses told ARISE News that the assailants, believed to be armed, stormed the hotel at about 9:15 p.m., breaking into several rooms in search of Dr. Nwibubasa and the ARISE News cameraman. The attackers were reportedly chanting in their local language, forcefully opening doors and confiscating mobile phones from guests.
Hotel workers and occupants were said to have fled in panic, running helter-skelter for safety as fear spread across the premises.
ARISE News reported that the attackers eventually located the venue of the interview and began threatening Dr. Nwibubasa and members of the television crew, ordering them to stop the live broadcast, which was subsequently forced to an abrupt end.
The ARISE News crew reportedly sent a distress alert to their colleagues, prompting an immediate notification to the police, while one of the team members rushed to the hotel.
Police authorities have since taken statements from all those involved in the incident.
According to ARISE News, the suspected thugs carted away broadcast equipment belonging to the station, including a Sony Canada Zed 280 camera, an industrial tripod, a wireless microphone and other accessories.
The station further noted that the same ARISE News crew had earlier on Friday covered an event attended by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in Omoku, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Reacting to the incident, Dr. Nwibubasa condemned the attack, describing it as unhealthy and dangerous for democracy.
ARISE News disclosed the incident in a post shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, raising concerns over the safety of journalists and the shrinking civic space in Rivers State.
