Some soldiers allegedly detailed to stop a peaceful demonstration by Pro-Biafra members, yesterday brutalized the South South Acting Editor of The AUTHORITY Newspaper, Mr Willie Etim, while Etim was trying to take pictures of the Pro-Biafra youths .
Over 1000 Pro-Biafra youths staged a peaceful march in Port Harcourt, in solidarity with the inauguration of the American President, Donald Trump and also to express the plight of Biafrans to the world.
Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the personnel of the Nigerian Army who were fully armed in their numbers, trying to stop the protest, Mr Willie Etim said, while on his way to the office, he noticed the massive crowd and decided as a journalist to cover the protest, only to be attacked by some soldiers.
He said he narrowly escaped being lynched by two of the soldiers, after they had hit him with the butt of their gun, destroyed his phone and other gadgets.
Mr Willie said, “At about 10am today, I was on my way to the office when I ran into a huge traffic holdup between Waterlines and Garrison bus-stop in Port Harcourt. One lane was blocked and I was wondering what would have caused such massive crowd.
“I got closer and discovered that it was Pro-Biafra march in solidarity with the inauguration of Donald Trump and also to draw the world’s attention to the Biafra situation in Nigeria.
“After interviewing some of the protesters, I went further to take a picture of the protesting youths. Unknowingly, one of the soldiers detailed to quell the protest sighted me as I was taking the picture and driving past the crowd. Immediately, three of the soldiers walked up to me, asked me who authorized me to take the picture. It was then I introduced myself to them that I am a journalist.
“One of them flared up and said ‘what stupid journalist’ and seized my phone which I used in snapping the picture and smashed it on the ground.
“When I attempted to plead with them, to allow me pick my sim card, they refused and threatened to shoot me if I come down from the car, while the two of them pointed their guns at me from the driver and passenger side of the car’s window. When I insisted to pick my Sim card, one of them hit my car with the of butt of his gun.
“Afterwards, the soldier also hit me with the butt of his gun. It was then I got scared and narrowly escaped from the scene to my office”.
