Port Harcourt —  Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State  has condemned the manhandling of a journalist, Mr. Kenneth Amabipi, who covered the 19th edition of the Ogoni Day celebration in Bori.

Amabipi, of a Port Harcourt-based newspaper, the National Network, was allegedly beaten to a state of coma by alleged thugs hired on January 4, to destabilise the event.

According to a statement by the Acting Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Blessing Wikina, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, the governor said the incident was really worrisome.

Amaechi wondered why people still allowed themselves to be used by others to cause problem in society.
“It is saddening to see that journalists are now made easy targets by some self-serving miscreants doing the bidding of their paymasters. It is regrettable that newsmen who are simply assisting to inform the society, who should be protected while doing their duties, are becoming targets,” Amaechi  said.

He further said that the era of violence in politics had gone, adding that government would not hesitate to deal with anyone found attempting to re-introduce violence in the state.

The Governor called on law enforcement officers to track down the perpetrators of the dastardly act and ensure that they were brought to book.

“It is the sacred duty of government to protect lives and property and pursuant to that, law enforcement officers have been detailed to check the activities of these miscreants,” Amaechi added.