Armed hoodlums allegedly loyal to the embattled Opu-Nembe youth president, Mr Moses Ayerite, defied Police presence Monday evening and attacked journalists who had gone to assess the situation in Opu-Nembe, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The hoodlums bearing sophisticated arms and other dangerous weapons, subjected some of the Journalists to frightening ill-treatments for hours, tying the hands of one them with a torn cloth.
The Inspector- General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun had deployed a special team of Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) to conduct a sting operation on Saturday which led to the arrest of eight suspects and recovery of a cache of arms.
The journalists attacked include Mr Joseph Kunde of TVC and his cameraman, Mr Bina Miebi, Mr Awe Baratuapere of NTA and his cameraman, Mr Ayebakuro Egein, Mrs Iniyekenime Doctor Bruce of Daar Communications and Mr Femi Folaranmi of The Sun.
The Daily Crucible gathered that the journalists were being taken around to see properties of some exiled Chiefs destroyed by some youths of the community before the deployment of the Police from Force headquarters.
Trouble, however, began when the team was at the last destroyed building belonging to the regent when boys armed with sophisticated and dangerous weapons swooped on them and in the ensuing pandemonium, the Journalists took refuge in some houses and had to wait for the Police team to rescue them.
It took the gallant efforts of the policemen led by the Unit Commander, Mr Silas, to engage the hoodlums and rescue some of the journalists.
Mr Silas led a team of Policemen to rescue Mr Kunde and brought him to the Police base but his cameraman, Mr Miebi was not lucky. His camera and phones were confiscated and he was beaten and afterwards, the hoodlums used his shirt which they tore to bound him hands and legs.
Mr Miebi was also rescued by the Police team.
The last journalist to be rescued, Mrs Iniyekenime of DAAR Communications who had also been stripped of her camera and phones and was taking refuge in a house at the nearby Ogbolomabiri community was brought to the Police base.
Mr Egein of NTA was left behind as the landlord of the house he was hiding said he was safe but can only leave in the morning because of the hoodlums.
The Police team succeeded in escorting the journalists out of the community at about 12.30 a.m., heavily guarded by the Police team led by Mr Silas in six Hilux vans.
