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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Members of Neighbourhood Security Watch (NSW), a vigilante group in Ebonyi State, have attacked a journalist, Godwin Aliuna.
The journalist was attacked while covering an event at he Old Government House, Abakaliki, the state capital Aliuna, who is currently hospitalised in a private clinic in the state capital, said he was roughly manhandled by Neighbourhood Watch.
“ I didn’t do anything wrong, just that there was a programme today, at the Old Government House, Abakaliki, where the Ministry of Border Peace was trying to resolve kingship tussle in one of the communities in Ishielu Local Government Area. “I went there to cover the event. I was at the entrance, when one of the officials in the ministry told me to come inside. I told her, let her wait; let me know what’s happening first.
“She said, I should come inside. So, I went inside and sat at the back. Before you knew it, they confiscated my phone. The Commissioner ordered one of his aides there to delete everything in my phone.
“They bundled me out of the hall. After throwing me on the ground, about five of them descended on me, beating me like a common criminal. What did I do that should warrant this manhandling? So, after beating me up, they ordered me to sit on the ground.
“They started hitting me hard one after the other; one on the head, another on the eyes, one was busy hitting me at the back, and another was trying to pull my hands behind my back.
“They told me to remove my clothes. I removed it. They said I’m under arrest as directed by the commissioner.
“One of them went outside, brought an object. He said, if I move, they would break my legs. I asked what was my offence? Did I steal anything to warrant this?
“As you can see, I’m right now in this hospital undertaking some treatments. I can’t see clearly with one of my eyes. I’m calling on the state government to intervene.”
