No fewer than four journalists covering the peaceful protest against hunger and hardship in Asaba have been attacked by anti protest group of over fifty persons.
The attackers swooped on the innocent journalists on sighting them interviewing some of the peaceful protesters who came out in their numbers with various placards depicting the sufferings in the country.
One of the journalists attacked by the hoodlums, Matthew Ochei of Punch Newspaper said it took the intervention of a military officer for their rescue.
According to the reporter, “the anti-protesters arrived at the scene at about 11:20 am, and started chasing the protesters away amidst security presence.I alongside three other journalists were talking photos and interviewing the protesters when the anti-protesters smashed out our gadgets and started attacking us.The policemen on ground folded their hands and were watching them attacking us unchallenged.The pointer reporter Mrs Lucy who sneaked out after she was slapped immediately rushed to the military officers for intervention.”
Meanwhile,there was pandemonium in several parts of Asaba as a team of security personnel allegedly used teargas to disperse regrouping of protesters.
Many government offices and private establishments did not open for business.
Vehicular and human traffic is at lowest ebb as very few private vehicles and tricycles were seen plying Nnebisi Road, Summit Road, and other parts of the state capital amidst heavy security presence.
Radio Nigeria
