By Okiemute Okpomor The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Warri Correspondents Chapel Press Centre has in the past one week been burgled twice with properties running into hundreds of thousands of naira stolen by the burglars.
In a statement signed by Com. Michael Ikeogwu and Com. Omafuaire Akpokona, chairman and secretary respectively expressed worries over the incessant attacks by armed youths, they disclosed that armed youths scaled the wall of the Press centre on 7th August, 2016 and cut through the windows of one of the rooms occupied by Mr. Bolaji Ogundele, Correspondent of the Nation Newspapers. and carted away his Lenovo tablet worth N81,000, two expensive phones, power bank and all the chargers while he was asleep.
The statement added that while internal investigation into the dastard act was ongoing, armed youths again struck in a more daring way with impunity this time on the wee hours of Wednesday 16th August, 2016 for a second burglary attack on the Union’s Secretariat.
According to the statement, “the criminals scaled into the compound at about 3am and cut through the burglary proof, entered and carted away a 42 inches Sony Plasma TV set installed by the Nigerian Navy and other properties worth several hundreds of thousand Naira.”
The Warri Correspondents Chapel viewed the acts as an affront and a challenge by the forces of darkness who are trying to dampen their resolve of exposing ills in the society, adding, “we will not be deterred by the attacks but we have resolved with manlike fortitude and philosophical equanimity to fight crime headlong by continuing to expose all criminal activities in the state and country. We will continue in high spirit to exhibit high level of professionalism in the execution of our mandate as we collaborate with other agencies in moving the country forward. We want to use this medium to warn criminal elements that no amount of attack will dampen our high rising commitment to effect change in our journey to repositioning the image of the country.”
The Union expressed appreciation to officers and men of the Police B Division Warri led by CSP Anniete Eyoh who swiftly moved into action and apprehended four suspects in relation to the incident, adding, “we also commend the efforts of the local vigilante and our members who stood to ensure that more damages were not done to the Secretariat.
