13 arrested suspects innocent, says assaulted Rivers journalist

A broadcast journalist, Allwell Ene, who was attacked by hoodlums while carrying out his duties at the Garrison area of Port Harcourt, has said the 13 persons arrested by the police are not the actual suspects who assaulted him.

Ene stated this after an identification exercise conducted by the police in Port Harcourt on Friday.

Recall that the state Police Command, in a statement by its spokesperson, Blessing Agabe , said operatives apprehended 13 suspects in connection with the attack and assault on Ene.

However, the Port Harcourt-based journalist, who works with Megaletrics, operators of Classic FM 91.1, Beat FM 99.9 and Naija FM 92.7, expressed disappointment that three weeks after miscreants attacked and inflicted injuries on him, none of the actual perpetrators had been arrested.

Ene therefore called on the police to intensify efforts and ensure that those who attacked him are arrested and made to face the law.

According to him, “Prosecuting the culprits would serve as a deterrent to others who may want to assault journalists who are carrying out their lawful duties.

“Unfortunately, as I speak to you, the hoodlums who attacked me are still walking freely around the same Garrison area where the incident occurred.

“I believe the Police can do better to arrest the real suspects,” he added.

When contacted on Friday after the complaint, the state Police spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, said the 13 suspects were arrested at the same location where Ene was attacked for the same offence he complained about.

Agabe, however, assured that investigations are still on and more arrests will be made, saying Ene would be called to verify their identity.

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She explained. “Well, what happened was that the suspects were arrested while committing similar crimes, such as stealing a phone at the same spot where he (Ene) was attacked.

“Now that he said they’re not the main suspects, our men are still investigating, and further arrests will be made. When that happens, we (Police) will invite the journalist for another identification exercise.”

Meanwhile, civil society organisations, media groups, journalists and concerned citizens have continued to call on the police authorities to step up efforts towards identifying, arresting and prosecuting the real culprits behind the assault on Ene.