A non-governmental organisation, called The Human Rights Defenders (HURIDE), has urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Adamu Mohammed, to open investigation into an alleged attack on Mr Paul Okah, a journalist with the Blue Print Newspapers.
The Chairman of the organisation in Ebonyi, Mr Sam Nweke, made the call in a petition addressed to the IGP and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Monday.
Nweke alleged that Okah was attacked on August 23 by thugs believed to be loyal to a prominent politician in the state.
He further alleged that the attack took place at the Afikpo home of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (name withheld).
The group expressed concern over the “incessant attacks and persecution of journalists in Ebonyi” and called for immediate investigation into the latest attack.
“We have contacted the suspected mastermind of the said attack, although he denied knowledge of it, he admitted being at the APC chieftain’s house on that day.
“We also spoke with the party chieftain and he acknowledged the presence of the journalist, the suspect and his “boys” in his compounded,” the petition further stated.
NAN reports that the attack on Okah came barely one month after Mr Edward Nnachi, a Punch Correspondent in Ebonyi, was allegedly attacked by a man suspected to be a member of the Ebonyi State Neighborhood Watch.
