Suspected Thugs Invade Hotel, Disrupt Arise TV Live Interview In Rivers

Armed youths suspected to be political thugs on Thursday night disrupted a live television interview being conducted by Arise Television at a hotel located in the Orazi axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

According to Ireporter Online, the incident occurred while an Arise TV crew was hosting a live interview with a former Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment in Rivers State, Leloonu Nwibubasa. The assailants reportedly forced the interview to end abruptly and made away with the station’s camera and other broadcasting equipment.

Eyewitness accounts indicated that the youths, believed to be armed, invaded the hotel premises at about 9:15pm. It was gathered that the interview, aired on Arise TV’s “News Night” programme, focused on the political situation in Rivers State and reportedly featured views that were perceived as critical of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Sources disclosed that shortly after the interview began, an individual within the hotel lounge allegedly alerted the attackers, who then stormed the venue. The former commissioner and members of the Arise TV crew were said to have narrowly escaped harm as the attackers went from room to room in search of them.

Witnesses recounted that the assailants chanted in the Ikwerre language, insisting that such an interview would not be allowed in the area. Hotel staff and guests reportedly fled in panic as the attackers forcefully opened doors and issued threats, compelling the interview to be discontinued.

An Arise TV reporter, Andy Omano, who managed to escape, contacted the police for assistance. He confirmed that officers from the area division swiftly responded, with the Divisional Police Officer leading a team to the hotel. With the cooperation of the hotel management, the former commissioner and the journalists were escorted out of the premises and taken to Kala Police Station, where statements were recorded.

The Arise TV cameraman, identified as Promise, later disclosed that his professional camera, tripod, wireless microphone and other broadcasting accessories were seized during the attack. He stated that the assailants fled the scene immediately upon sighting the police.

Reacting to the incident, Nwibubasa condemned the attack, describing it as a dangerous sign for democratic practice. He noted that the interview was already nearing its conclusion and had touched on the 2027 general elections when the disruption occurred, stressing that intimidation and violence have no place in a free and democratic society.