VICE CHAIRMAN NUJ EBONYI STATE COUNCIL DIES, SECRETARY GIVEN MATCHETE CUT AS ARMED ROBBERS ATTACK THEIR VEHICLE
An armed robbery attack on some members of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ebonyi State Council returning from their triennial delegates conference held in Abeokuta Ogun State has left one dead and another severely injured.
The Journalists were attacked at the Nkalagu section of Enugu- Abakaliki Expressway when their 14-seater bus driven by one of them, Mr. Peter Okutu, of Vanguard Newspapers ran into a road block mounted by the suspected hoodlums.
The corpse of the deceased Journalist has been deposited in a mortuary while Mr. Okutu, who sustained machete cut, is receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA).
The incident occurred a few metres away from a police checkpoint at the boundary between Enugu and Ebonyi State.
According to Mr. Okutu, the armed robbers numbering about three blocked the Expressway with logs of wood.
He pointed out that on realizing that they were not policemen, he attempted to swerve through the road block but it was too late as they smashed his side window with their cutlass before cutting his arm.
The Secretary of Nigeria Union of Journalists in Ebonyi State, Mr. Tony Nwizi, who was also in the bus, explained that after forcing their vehicle to stop, the robbers ordered them to exit and lie down.
Mr. Nwizi noted that it was while they were laying down that an oncoming vehicle on spotting that it was an armed  robbery scene swerved through their position and killed one of them.
Corroborating the story, the state correspondent of Thisday Newspapers, Mr. Ben Nworie and a reporter with Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Tony Ukwuome, said that the armed robbers collected some of their phones and identity cards.
About 13 Journalists, including Mr. Sunday Nwambam of Radio Nigeria Unity Fm Abakaiki, Mr. Nnamdi Akpa of Guardian Newspapers, Correspondent Chapel Chairman, Mr. Jacob Ogodo, Mrs. Chinaza John of Nigerian Television Authority, were involved in the attack.
After the matter was reported to Ebonyi State Police Command, an Officer was directed to accompany the journalists to deposit the remains of their dead colleague in the mortuary.
AMECHI ODO