Newspaper publishers, media managers, and journalists in Rivers State have told the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the State's Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, to urgently investigate the recent attack on an Arise News Channel's crew in Port Harcourt or face a boycott of all police activities by the media in the state.
They issued the warning on Thursday under the aegis of the Port Harcourt Press, giving the police a two-week ultimatum to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible for the attack, which occurred during a live interview at a hotel in the Rivers State capital.
Speaking on behalf of the group, publisher of the Port Harcourt Telegraph and former member of the House of Representatives, Ogbonna Nwuke, described the attack as "unfortunate" and a litmus test of what desperate politicians may seek to re-enact in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general election.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the incident occurred on Friday, January 2, when suspected thugs invaded a hotel in Port Harcourt and disrupted a live interview being conducted by an Arise News crew with a former Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubassa.
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The assailants reportedly threatened the former commissioner and seized some broadcast equipment. The items were later recovered and returned by the police.
Nwuke condemned the attack, saying it reflected a broader threat to journalism and public safety.
He alleged that despite the suspects being identified by the interviewee, the police appeared to be shielding the perpetrators.
"It is important to note that when the journalism profession is threatened, society itself comes under siege. From available information, the police appear to be playing to the gallery. While the broadcast equipment was reportedly recovered, no definite arrests have been made," he said.
Nwuke further expressed concern that although Dr. Nwibubassa reportedly mentioned the name of one of the attackers, no immediate action was taken by the authorities.
"The silence of the police authority since Friday, January 2, raises serious concerns. We are therefore constrained to believe that the police may be compromised and, by implication, complicit in this heinous act against the journalism profession in Rivers State," he added.
He demanded an urgent and thorough investigation, insisting that all those involved must be arrested and prosecuted within two weeks.
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Nwuke warned that failure to act decisively would attract sanctions, including the withdrawal of media coverage of all police activities in Rivers State, in solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He called on the IGP and the State's Commissioner of Police to "acquit themselves of any complicity by demonstrating clear commitment to a transparent investigation, arrest, and prosecution of all those involved, including those who armed the thugs that disrupted the Arise TV interview."
