By Onomiguren Agbamu
Delta state investigative Journalist, Prince Amour Udemude, Asaba Correspondents of Punch and Guardian Newspapers, Matthew Ochei and Monday Osayande covering the #hungerprotest were attacked by anti-protesters suspected to be loyal to the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP), at Inter-Bua Roundabout, Asaba, the State capital.
Trouble started on Thursday August 1, 2024, when the suspected hired PDP thugs stormed the popular Inter-Bua roundabout, stormed the venue of the #NationwideBadGovernance protests that erupted across the nation and the attendant violence and started harassing journalists and the protesters.
As the anti-protesters were manhandling one of the pro-protesters, the leader of the alleged PDP thugs saw Amour recording, and immediately jacked him on his jean trousers and other thugs joined and began to manhandle the investigative journalist, demanding for his phone.
The anti-protesters were allegedly paid on Tuesday by the Delta State Government to disrupt the entire process.
They warned journalists not to cover the #HungerProtesters as they would bounce on them mercilessly.
The protest was peaceful around 10:00am, until the paid anti-protesters arrived at about 11:20am and started chasing the protesters away in the presence of security agencies.
The situation degenerated, and other thugs came in and began to manhandle the Asaba Correspondents of the Punch and Guardian newspapers while heavily armed men from the Delta state Police Command, Asaba folded their arms watching the scenario.
The Pointer, reporter Mrs Lucy Ezeliora, who sneaked out after she was slapped, rushed to the military officers for intervention.
It took a swift intervention of an Army personnel who came to the scene to rescue Amour and other two Journalists and whisked away from the scene.
It was reliably gathered that the Delta state government allegedly bribed youth groups, students bodies, religious bodies and others not to participate in the protest and to stop those pro-protesters across the state.
As at the time of this report it was gathered, Amour’s phone could not be recovered from the thugs.
The manhandling by anti-protesters suspected hired PDP thugs has set unease among PDP chieftains and government officials in the State particularly government house.
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