Fourteen Nigerian journalists were abducted in a speedboat ambush by a gang of youths and beaten in what appears to be part of the rivalry between two communities - the Ijaw and Itsekiri peoples - on the Niger Delta.
The journalists were returning by boat from an Itsekiri press conference about a $16bn gas project in the Warri area of the delta when the gang came alongside and boarded them.
Several journalists were beaten when they refused to hand over cameras and recording equipment. The Ijaw gang then demobilised the boat and ransacked the belongings of the journalists and six other people aboard, who included Kiki, an Itsekiri youth leader.
All were forced into other boats and taken hostage to what appeared to be the gang’s hideaway. The journalists were held for six hours, during which the boat driver and one of the journalists, Emma Arubi, senior correspondent of the Daily Independent, were badly beaten.
According to a report by one of the abducted journalists, Emma Amaize, one of the gang “took delight in flogging those lying on the ground, including an Itsekiri chief.” They accused the journalists of promoting the Itsekiri agenda.
After the authorities were contacted, navy officials rescued the hostages.
Source: Vanguard
