BY EXCEL CHIMA
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| Men of NSCDC on duty.. |
Trouble began when men of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) allegedly stopped a man, one Paschal Opara at Owerri- Okigwe road directly opposite the Nigerian Civil Defence Office who was taking his pregnant wife that was in labour to hospital for delivery.
Mr.Opara was accused by FRSC officials of having expired papers for his vehicle. While he was pleading for mercy and understanding from the FRSC officials to show concern for his pregnant wife, men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) suddenly invaded the scene.
The melee that ensued attracted the attention of some journalists who were already gathered at the Imo State PDP secretariat located at the same spot to cover the press conference called by PDP stakeholders who wanted to protest the cancellation of the Imo North senatorial re- run polls cancelled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
An eye witness account said three journalists, Mr. Tope Kuteyi of Channels television, Nnamdi Ofornya of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Obioma Oburoga of Silverbird in Imo State were said to have stormed the scene and were allegedly taking pictures and recordings of on-goings at the scene.
This attracted the attention of some of the Civil Defence Corps who “arrested” the journalists and unleashed inhumane treatment on them as they were harassed and assaulted.
The plea of the journalists who identified themselves by showing their identity cards as reporters of Channels tv, Silverbird and Ait fell on deaf ears as they were promptly taken to Civil Defence office also located within the vicinity of the incident.
This development forced other journalists within the scene to storm the office of the Civil Defence where they promptly asked for the release of their colleagues. This almost led to a showdown between the journalists and men of the Civil Defence who also shot indiscriminately in the air to scare away the angry journalists.
The matter nearly degenerated to fisticuffs save for the arrival and intervention of Mr. Sam Onwuemedo, the Chief Press Secretary to the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha who was said to have liaised with the PRO of the NSCDC to resolve the matter and subsequently release the “ detained” journalists.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Imo State chapter, is expected to issue a press statement condemning the action of the men of the Civil Defence Corps against the three journalists in the State.
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