Uyo — The Nations correspondent in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Kazeem Ibrahim, was yesterday beaten up by security operatives at the church service programme marking Governor Akpabio's 50th birthday.

The incident which disrupted the prog-ramme for several minutes was brought under control following the intervention of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Anietie Ukpe. Our correspondent reports that trouble started when journalists who were invited to cover the event were subjected to serious frisking by men of the State Security Service, who after checking them did not allow them in.

It took the intervention of Mr. Anietie Ukpe, who came out from his seat after sensing the confusion at the gate to indentify his men before they could be allowed to entry.

However, the Nation's correspondent was not lucky as the sss men held him from behind and dragged him on the floor.