Media:  Who Wants Ebonyi Journalists Dead?

 

  

 Newspaper Publishers Association of Ebonyi State, EBNA, wants the state government to investigate spate of armed robbery attacks on journalists in the state.

 

By Maurice Okafor

 

This could better be described as deliberate attacks, targeted on the media. Between April and July this year, three armed robbery related attacks on some journalists in Ebonyi State have set the tongue wagging as to what might have been the motives behind them.

 

Imo Eze, publisher of Ebonyi Voice, a local tabloid, published in the stat capital, Abakaliki, escaped death by whiskers on April 30, when armed robbers numbering about six invaded the newspaper's premises, which also serves as his official residence. It took the combined effort of members of staff who were on duty and early intervention of the state security agencies to repulse the attack. The Ebonyi State Police public relations officer, Mr. N-Nudam, confirmed this incidence to this magazine and said a suspect who was arrested in connection with the robbery has been charged to court.

 

For Moses Nwakpa, publisher of Ebonyi Records, another local tabloid, published in the state, a kidnap is the least he perceived will ever happen to him. But he is thanking God that he is alive after the experience. Nwakpa was kidnapped on June 30 at about 9 p.m. He had dropped a friend at the premises of Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Abakaliki, and was about reversing his car when he was accosted by three unidentified gun men.

 

According to Nwakpa, one of the gun men took over the steering from him, while the remaining two forced him into the back of the car and forcefully pulled out his shirt and covered his face. Nwakpa said he later found himself in a thick bush that looked like a shrine at about 12 midnight, along Ezzamgbo-Effium road in Ohaukwu local government of the state, about 20 kilometers from Abakaliki metropolis. He sneaked out of the bush naked and when he noticed that the location was Ezzamgbo, he went to the palace of the traditional ruler of the area, Igwe Eze Chibueze Agbo. The traditional ruler gave him water to bath, provided clothes and transport fare to enable him return to Abakaliki in the morning. His car was recovered a week later at Okwor Ngbo village of Ohaukwu local government area by Ohaukwu divisional police command. Also recovered were his handsets, camera and other working instruments. The act raises question on the mission of his abductors or kidnappers. Moses Nwkpa told this magazine, he still could not ascertain what actually was the mission of his kidnappers since as a professional journalist, he believes in objective reporting.

 

More gruesome is the case of Prince Anya Okorie and Emeka Ugbo, both of Ebonyi Broadcasting Service, EBBS, staff. They were shot by yet-to-be identified gunmen on July 15 as they were about to drive into the premises of the station. Opa Nkama Ibiam, a lecturer in English Department of Ebonyi State University, who was in their company was also given some bullet shots while he tried to escape from the vehicle. The police public relations officer, PPRO, for Ebonyi State police command, N-Nudam, also confirmed this incidence to this magazine. N-Nudam disclosed that one of the general managers of the station, Comrade Nwafor Odom, is currently under police detention in connection with the matter. He said until the police conclude their investigation and subsequently charge the matter to court, Comrade Nwafor Odom will remain behind bars since it is only the court of law that has the power to grant bail to attempted murder suspect.

 

Worried by these attacks, the Newspaper Publishers Association of Ebonyi State, EBNA, petitioned the state government and the state house of assembly to investigate the spate of unprovoked attacks.

 

EBNA, in a press statement dated July 22 and signed by members of the association, appealed to the state government to set up a panel of inquiry to look into the ugly incidents. They also want the state house of assembly to conduct a public hearing on the attacks and make appropriate laws against them. “If there is any wrong doing against any agency in the state; government, group or any individual by media practitioners in the state, such disagreement should be directed to the law court of competent jurisdiction which is constitutionally empowered to resolve conflicts without fear or favour,” the statement further added.

 

Dr. Onyekachi Eni, the chief press secretary to Governor Martin Elechi, however noted that until the police investigations proved otherwise, he has a belief that the incidences were part of the general rising crime wave in the society, of which the state government is trying its best to curtail. Eni said it is very unfortunate that some journalists in the state have fallen victims to such social malaise.