By CHARLES IWUOHA

An Ebonyi-based journalist has landed in hospital in the state capital, Abakaliki, after the heavy beating he received on Thursday, allegedly on the orders of the State Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Professor Paul Awo Nwobasi.

The victim, Aliuna Godwin, is one of the editors of The Nations News Nigeria online platform and the Ebonyi State Correspondent of Daily Asset newspaper.

It was gathered that Aliuna alongside other journalists went to the Ministry of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution to cover an event when the ugly incident occurred.

Narrating his ordeal, Aliuna stated that he entered into the hall where the event was taking place and immediately the commissioner sighted him, he ordered the Neibourhood Watch operatives to walk him out.

According him, it was due to refusal that the Neighbourhood watch operatives, started beating him. It took the quick intervention of Journalists around to save his life.

The brutalised journalist said: "I was roughly mal-handled by the Neighbourhood watch under the directive and supervision of the Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Professor Paul Awo Nwobasi.

"So, I didn't do him anything, just that they had a programme today, at the old government house Abakaliki, where the Ministry was trying to resolve the Ezeship tussle rocking one of the communities in Ishielu LGA.

"I went there to cover the event at the ministry's open hall located inside the old government house Abakaliki alongside other journalists. I was at the entrance, when one of the aides told me to come inside. I told her, let her wait, let me know what's is happening first.

"After throwing me on the ground, they started beating me up. About five of them descended on me, hitting me hard like a common criminal. For what, did I do that should warrant this mal-handling? So, after all the beating, then they ordered me to sit on the ground.

"It is barbaric and uncalled for a commissioner to order security operatives to beat up a journalist to a pulp. For what purpose? Am doing my job according to the freedom.

"I called on the general public, the editors to call the Neighbourhood watch to order.

"Journalists are the conscience and mouth piece of the society. I'm indeed not happy the way I was rough handled. I am not happy with what happened.

"Journalists in Ebonyi have cordial working relationship with the state government and I don't know why the commissioner would always be hostile to journalists.?

The beaten journalist called on the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, and human rights activists to intervene.

However, speaking to journalists in his office in reaction to the incident, Professor Paul Awo Nwobasi denied ordering any Neibourhood Watch against Aliuna.

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