Suspected Thugs Storm Rivers Hotel, Force Halt of Arise News Live Interview
Suspected political thugs on Friday night disrupted a live Arise News interview at Londa Hotel, located in the Orazi area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State.
The Arise News crew was conducting a live broadcast with a former Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa, when the attackers reportedly invaded the hotel. Dr. Nwibubasa was speaking on the political situation in Rivers State at the time of the incident.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants, believed to be armed, arrived at about 9:15 p.m. and forcibly entered several rooms within the hotel while searching for Dr. Nwibubasa and members of the television crew. The intruders were said to be chanting in a local language, breaking doors, and confiscating mobile phones, causing panic among hotel guests and staff who fled for safety.
The attackers later located the venue of the interview and allegedly threatened the former commissioner and the Arise News team, forcing them to terminate the live broadcast.
Following the disruption, the Arise News crew sent a distress message to colleagues, who immediately alerted the police and proceeded to the hotel. Police officers later arrived at the scene and have since taken statements from those affected by the incident.
Items reportedly taken by the assailants include a Sony Z280 broadcast camera, an industrial tripod, wireless microphones, and other production equipment.
It was also gathered that the Arise News crew had earlier in the day covered a public event attended by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in Omoku, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area.
Condemning the incident, Dr. Nwibubasa described the attack as a dangerous development for democracy, stressing that intimidation and violence have no place in a democratic society.
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