Mr Charles Opurum, a correspondent with Channels Television, has narrowly escaped death on Tuesday after narrating how a mob at a petrol station in Rumuola, Port Harcourt, attacked him, prompting a police investigation into the incident.
According to the channel TV correspondence, he said the altercation began when he attempted to gain access to the filling station to purchase fuel but was obstructed by a vehicle stationed at the entrance.
Following a repeated sounding of his horn to clear the way, a disagreement ensued between him and an elderly man at the scene.
The situation quickly escalated when the man allegedly confronted and slapped the journalist without provocation.
He, however, said he reacted in self-defence, but within moments, he was surrounded by a group of commercial tricycle operators who descended on him.
He recounted that the attackers struck him from multiple directions, forcing him to retreat into his vehicle in an attempt to escape. In the chaos, he managed to drive off, though not without further damage to his car.
According to him, Opurum claimed that a police officer attached to the petrol station shattered both his front and rear windscreens during the incident.
The officer reportedly alleged he mistook the journalist for an individual known for evading payment after purchasing fuel.
Following his escape, the reporter reported the matter to the police. The Divisional Police Officer of the area subsequently deployed patrol teams to apprehend those involved.
More details from him noted that efforts to make arrests reportedly met resistance from individuals in the vicinity.
Despite the initial tension, the man accused of initiating the assault among other suspects was eventually taken into custody.
The manager of the filling station also provided CCTV footage, which Opurum said contradicted claims that he was the aggressor.
At the police station, attempts were allegedly made by the suspects to shift blame onto the journalist. However, the video evidence reportedly clarified the sequence of events.
Although the parties later sought reconciliation and compensated the journalist for the damage to his vehicle, Opurum maintained that he intends to pursue the matter further. He has called for disciplinary action against the police officer involved, stressing the need for accountability.
