An atmosphere of fear enveloped a hotel in the Orazi axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Friday night after suspected political thugs violently interrupted a live television interview being aired by Arise TV.
The broadcast, featuring a former Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Dr Leloonu Nwibubasa, was abruptly cut short when armed men reportedly stormed the premises at about 9:15 pm, sparking panic among guests and staff.
The assailants were said to have forced their way into several rooms while chanting in a local dialect, allegedly in search of Dr Nwibubasa and members of the Arise TV crew. Eyewitnesses said doors were broken open, mobile phones seized and occupants compelled to flee for safety as confusion spread through the hotel.
According to accounts from the scene, the gunmen eventually traced the location of the interview and issued threats that compelled the former commissioner and the television crew to abandon the live programme mid-stream.
A member of the Arise TV team disclosed that a distress call from a colleague prompted him to alert the police and rush to the hotel. By the time he arrived, the Divisional Police Officer overseeing the area had deployed officers to the scene.
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The police, working alongside hotel management, evacuated Dr Nwibubasa and the journalists to the Kala Police Station, where statements were later taken.
One of the crew members, cameraman Promise, said several pieces of broadcast equipment were taken during the invasion, including a Sony Z280 camera, an industrial tripod and wireless microphones.
He said the attack came as a shock, noting that the interview followed immediately after he had concluded coverage of another event for the station.
“I had just filed that report before starting with the former commissioner on a programme called News Night when two men stormed the place and disrupted the live interview,” he recounted, adding that the assailants fled upon noticing the arrival of security operatives.
Confirming his safety, Dr Nwibubasa condemned the incident, describing it as a disturbing signal for democratic practice in the state.
“ I was already rounding off the interview and speaking about the forthcoming 2027 general elections. They are already showing signs of what will happen.,” he said.
As of Saturday morning, the Rivers State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement.
