There was a mild drama today at Okat, Onna Local government area of Akwa Ibom state when the governor, in continuation of his inspection, flag-off and commissioning of projects across that state to mark his two years in office.
The governor had gone to his home local government
area to commission some projects and inspect a new factory that would produce syringes in the area.
No sooner had the governor left the venue of the ceremony than irate
youths in a frenzy of anger descended on journalists, who were traveling
in the governor’s entourage.
The crowd of youths demanded for money
from the journalists, “since the governor did not deem it right to give
them something”.
It was observed that the angry youths were rushing to share some money believed to have been taken from government officials at the site of the flag off ceremony for the construction of Flour Mills company in Okat, ONNA, when they came in contact with the journalists who were on official assignment on activities marking 2017 Democracy Day and second anniversary in office of the governor.
A young man, who shouted at the top of his voice for journalists to give them money or clear from the way as they ran, pushed down a journalist, Mfon Hanson, while other journalists scamper for safety.
Chairman of the Chapel, Inimfon Silas, expressed bitterness over the situation, after the youths ran into a nearby bush.
Pictures of blood stains from the youth who hit the bus were observed on the front of the bus as of the time of filing this report.
Twelve journalists were standing by the side of the bus when the incident happened.
Before the incident, Governor Udom had performed ground breaking ceremony for the construction of coconut factory in Ikot Akpan Okop, Mkpat Enin; and inspected the ongoing construction of syringe factory at ONNA.
Before the frightened journalists could explain to the youths, stone and other missiles were hurled at their vehicles. All entreaties that they were journalists merely covering the event fell on deaf ears as they continued to inflict injuries on the journalists.
In the melee, the windshield of a bus donated to the Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the governor’s entourage was broken and some journalists wounded.
Ironically, Onna, which is the governor’s home local government has witnessed a massive construction of roads and the sitting of two major industrial concerns, including a Metering factory and the Jubilee Syringes factory.
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