A broadcast journalist, Allwell Ene, who was attacked by hoodlums while carrying out his duties in the Garrison area of Port Harcourt, has said the 13 persons arrested by the police are not the actual suspects responsible for the assault.
Ene made the clarification after participating in an identification exercise conducted by the Rivers State Police Command in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The state Police Command had earlier announced the arrest of 13 suspects in connection with the attack on the journalist.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, the command said operatives apprehended the suspects following investigations into the incident.
However, Ene, a staff member of Megaletrics Limited — operators of Classic FM 91.1, Beat FM 99.9 and Naija FM 92.7 — expressed disappointment that three weeks after the assault, none of the real attackers had been apprehended.
The journalist said the actual hoodlums who attacked and injured him were still roaming freely around the Garrison axis where the incident occurred.
“Unfortunately, as I speak to you, the hoodlums who attacked me are still walking freely around the same Garrison area where the incident occurred,” Ene said.
“I believe the Police can do better to arrest the real suspects.”
He called on the police to intensify efforts to identify and prosecute those responsible for the attack, stressing that bringing the perpetrators to justice would discourage future assaults on journalists carrying out legitimate assignments.
“Prosecuting the culprits would serve as a deterrent to others who may want to assault journalists who are carrying out their lawful duties,” he added.
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Reacting to the development, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, maintained that the suspects were arrested at the same location where Ene was attacked while allegedly engaging in similar criminal activities.
“Well, what happened was that the suspects were arrested while committing similar crimes, such as stealing a phone at the same spot where he was attacked,” she explained.
She, however, assured that investigations were ongoing and that further arrests would be made if necessary.
“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 will invite the journalist for another identification exercise,” she added.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations, media rights groups, journalists and concerned residents have continued to pressure security agencies to ensure that the actual perpetrators behind the assault are identified, arrested and prosecuted.
The attack on Ene has sparked renewed concerns over the safety of journalists and media professionals operating in Rivers State and other parts of the country.