Veteran journalists, publishers and media executives under the aegis of the Port Harcourt Press have strongly condemned the attack on an ARISE Television crew in Port Harcourt, describing the incident as an assault on press freedom and a dangerous signal of rising political intolerance in Rivers State.
At a world press conference held in Port Harcourt on Thursday, the media body decried what it called the “unprovoked and barbaric” attack on the ARISE TV crew by armed men at a hotel on Friday, January 2, 2026, while the journalists were conducting an interview with a former Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa.
The group warned that the incident reflects a broader attempt by desperate political actors to intimidate journalists and stifle free expression ahead of future elections in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the body, the conveners said the press conference became necessary because “society collapses quite fast when evil is allowed to thrive while good people keep silent,” stressing that any threat to journalism ultimately places the entire society under siege.
They described the attack, which reportedly involved the forceful seizure of broadcast equipment, as a direct threat to human lives and democratic freedoms.
According to the media veterans, allegations by Dr. Nwibubasa that the assailants boasted of acting to protect their political leader and warned against any statements critical of him underscore what they termed a return to “ancient and barbaric” political practices.
“This is nothing but intimidation,” the group declared, adding that an attack on journalists in the line of duty amounts to an attack on the larger society and the public’s right to know.
The Port Harcourt Press also expressed grave concern over the handling of the incident by the police.
While acknowledging reports that the seized broadcast equipment had been recovered, the body lamented that no arrests had been made nearly a week after the attack.
They further alleged that despite the mention of a specific perpetrator by the interviewee, no immediate action was taken by law enforcement authorities.
The silence of the police since the incident, the group said, raises serious questions and fuels suspicion of compromise or complicity.
Consequently, the media body demanded a thorough and transparent investigation into the attack, insisting that all those involved must be arrested and prosecuted within two weeks.
Failure to do so, they warned, could attract sanctions, including the withdrawal of media coverage of police activities in Rivers State, in solidarity with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
The group called directly on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju Adewole, to demonstrate professionalism and neutrality by ensuring the logical investigation and prosecution of both the attackers and those who allegedly sponsored them.
Beyond the immediate incident, the Port Harcourt Press warned that the attack appeared to be a “test-run” aimed at instilling fear in journalists and shrinking civic space ahead of the 2027 general elections. They cautioned politicians against overheating the polity, particularly at a time when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to declare the commencement of electioneering campaigns.
In a pointed remark, the media executives urged former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to exercise restraint and conduct himself as a statesman. They said his rhetoric and mannerisms during visits to local government areas often heighten political tension in the state.
The group noted that having served two terms as governor, Wike should accept the transient nature of power and allow peace to prevail. They also called on him, as a minister in the Federal Government, to promote tolerance and non-violence in line with the expectations of democratic leadership.
“The birth of dictatorship often begins with the suppression of the free press,” the group warned, declaring their collective opposition to any attempt to muzzle journalists or impose authoritarian practices in Rivers State.
The statement was jointly signed by Rt. Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, Sir Ngo Martyns Yellowe and Rev’d Canon Jerry Needam, JP.
