March 29, (THEWILL) – Sunday night was not friendly with Journalists and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithfuls, as some over zealous policemen at Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, whipped them while waiting for the outcome of stakeholders meeting to trim down governorship aspirants from 34 to 5.
Our correspondent, who was also a victim of the police brutality, said trouble started at about 7:00 pm on Sunday, when Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, had left the government house to the Airport after a close door meeting with governor Samuel Ortom and statutory delegates of PDP.
Journalists and other party officials were seated at the new banquet hall awaiting the governor’s arrival, when the PDP State Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, backed by the state chairman, Sir John Ngbede, alerted those officially invited to excuse themselves out of the hall, following which Journalists relocated to the lawn tennis court.
Three armed police personnel, bearing horse whip ran into the court chasing everyone outside, to the main gate. Even Journalists, who brandished their Identity Cards, were thrashed with koboko.
“In the course of scampering for safety, I fell and hit my waist on the hard floor, while Hemadoon Orsar of Leadership, lost one of her shoes, with New Telegraph correspondent, Cephas Iorhemen, losing his wrist watch”, our correspondent narrated
A Benue born female show Artiste, popularly known as Telis V, was severely beaten, as she sustained bruises and was lifted on the shoulders out of the gate by some youths.
It was gathered that senator Abba Moro’s cameraman was also not spared, while Peter Duru of Vanguard, was threatened with a gun by the cops.
Former Correspondent of The Punch, who is now Supervisory Councillor in Ado local government council, Attah Eden, was not lucky as he received part of the baptism of ‘beating’ at the entry point at the government house.
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