On August 1, 2026, some men numbering over 50, believed to be thugs loyal to a political party, who were armed with dangerous weapons, attacked journalists who had been invited to cover the defection of a politician in Ebonyi State, Chief Ifeanyi Nworie, from the All Progressive Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to media reports, they attempted to burn the journalists and the vehicle that conveyed them to the village square in Idembia, Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, venue of the event.
The thugs, allegedly led by a lawyer, Mr Friday Agbom, ambushed the journalists who were conveyed in a branded official vehicle to cover the event on the invitation of Chief Nworie. The thugs smashed the vehicle windows with stones and other objects and began looking for fuel to set the vehicle ablaze before the driver manoeuvred his way out and escaped.
One of the journalists in the vehicle said: “They were hitting the vehicle badly and looking for fuel to burn us inside. If not for the driver’s quick thinking, we wouldn’t be here to tell this story.”
When journalists contacted Mr Agbom, he reportedly questioned why journalists should cover the activities of opposition political parties in the state.
Reports say over 20 armed policemen were present at the original playground venue where the programme was initially billed to hold, but did not prevent the thugs from disrupting the event.
