Robbers attack photojournalist in Edo

https://guardian.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/gunmen.jpg

The alarming level of insecurity in Edo State has continued to create worries for citizens as what started like a normal day on Monday ended in an awry form for a freelance photo-journalist, Lucky Agie.

The alarming level of insecurity in Edo State has continued to create worries for citizens as what started like a normal day on Monday ended in an awry form for a freelance photo-journalist, Lucky Agie.

He was attacked by suspected armed robbers on his way home from work as he boarded a taxi along Akpakpava Road in Benin City.He was attacked with dangerous objects, pummeled and thrown out of the vehicle into a valley after being dispossessed of his belongings including his camera worth over N400,000, ATM cards, identity card and cash. A Good Samaritan rescued him by taking him to a private hospital where he is currently recuperating.

Narrating his ordeal to journalists in pains at the hospital with a heavily bandaged right eye, stitched head with a swollen face, Agie, who recently retired from the state-owned Nigerian Observer before taking the freelance work with The Sun, said: “I watched the first half of the Cameroun versus Nigeria match at the NUJ Press Centre and wanted to go home. I tried starting my car but the engine couldn’t rev up. I now decided to go by public transport and I was dropped off at Akpakpava, where I entered a taxi, an Audi 80 painted in the state colours.

“Some passengers were inside, including a lady and that gave me the courage to enter because I am always wary, not knowing that the lady was part of the gang. I immediately paid the driver when I entered and he said he did not have my balance. Just by Second Junction, near Total Filling Station, one of the passengers alighted and another entered who now sat with me in the front seat. Immediately the driver drove off, they started beating me and hitting me with objects that injured my head and my eyes, they even tried to strangulate me with my shirt, which they tore.

“They continued their beating and I was losing strength and blood until they got to Ikkpobha Hill after the bridge and pushed me into the valley, leaving me unconscious. After they drove off, I struggled to get out of the valley and waived at passersby until a Good Samaritan came and took me in his taxi to this hospital. I was only able to remember my elder brother’s number who is based in Abuja. I called him and he reached my people in Benin who now came to me.”