A reporter with Thisday Newspapers in Ebonyi State, Comrade Benjamin Nworie, was reportedly attacked in the early hours of Monday at his residence in Ugwuechara, Abakaliki.
Nworie, who is also a former Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state, alleged that the assailants were loyalists of the Chairman of Ishielu Local Government Area, Mrs. Peace Agwu.
In a petition addressed to the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police and the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nworie said three suspected thugs stormed his residence, knocked on his gate, and assaulted him in the presence of his wife and eight-year-old daughter.
Recounting the incident, he said: “I was attacked in the early hours of today by three thugs allegedly linked to the Chairman of Ishielu Local Government Area, Mrs. Peace Agwu, at my residence in Ugwuechara, Abakaliki.
“The thugs aggressively stormed my residence, knocked on my gate, and began questioning why I had removed some bamboo poles from my entrance. I was beaten in front of my wife and eight-year-old daughter.
“As I tried to explain that I removed the bamboo because it obstructed my entrance and nearly caused an accident days earlier, they forcefully dragged and assaulted me, punching me repeatedly on the face and mouth.
“They also threatened to kill me and my family. It took the intervention of neighbours to rescue me from further harm.” Nworie further alleged that he had experienced ongoing difficulties due to construction activities by the council chairman near his residence.
“For months, I have had to park my car in a nearby compound because building materials such as nails, planks, and bamboo poles were left scattered on the road. Often, I had to clear the debris myself just to gain access to my home,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Council of the NUJ has condemned the attack, describing it as unacceptable and a threat to press freedom. The NUJ Chairman in the state, Comrade Samson Nwafor, said the assault left Nworie with visible injuries and called on security agencies to act swiftly.
“The attack on Comrade Nworie, which left him bruised and threatened, is totally condemnable. We call on security agencies to urgently investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.
He also urged the Ishielu Local Government Chairman, Mrs. Peace Agwu, to cooperate with authorities by identifying and presenting the suspects for investigation. “The safety and security of journalists must be prioritised in any democratic society,” Nwafor added.
