A live interview on ARISE News was abruptly disrupted on Friday night after suspected political thugs invaded the Londa Hotel, located in the Orazi axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The incident occurred while an ARISE News crew was conducting a live interview with a former Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa, who was speaking on the prevailing political situation in the state.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants, believed to be armed, stormed the hotel at about 9:15 p.m., forcibly breaking into rooms while searching for Dr. Nwibubasa and the ARISE News cameraman. The attackers were reportedly chanting in a local language, forcing doors open and confiscating guests’ mobile phones, triggering panic among hotel staff and guests who fled for safety.
The suspects later located the venue of the live interview, where they allegedly issued threats against Dr. Nwibubasa and the ARISE News crew, compelling them to discontinue the broadcast.
Following the disruption, the ARISE News team reportedly sent a distress message to a colleague, who immediately alerted the police. Law enforcement officers have since taken statements from those involved in the incident.
Items reportedly seized by the assailants include a Sony Canada Z280 camera, an industrial tripod, a wireless microphone, and other broadcast accessories.
Ironically, the ARISE News crew had earlier on Friday covered an event in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, attended by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Condemning the attack, Dr. Nwibubasa described the incident as unhealthy for democracy, stressing that intimidation and violence have no place in a democratic society.
