A reporter with Channels Television, Charles Opurum, has alleged that he was nearly lynched during a violent altercation at a fueling station in Rumuola, Port Harcourt.
In a detailed account shared on social media, Opurum said the incident occurred at a Restopark filling station when he attempted to gain entry to purchase petrol.
According to him, the entrance was initially blocked by another vehicle engaged in a discussion with an elderly man. After repeatedly honking to gain access, tensions escalated when the man allegedly began verbally abusing him.
Opurum claimed that upon stepping out of his car, the man approached him aggressively and slapped him without provocation, prompting him to retaliate. The situation quickly spiraled, as he said he was surrounded by a group of men who physically assaulted him from multiple directions.
He further alleged that as he attempted to flee the scene in his vehicle, a police officer attached to the station smashed both his front and rear windshields. In the chaos, one of the attackers reportedly fell off his moving vehicle and sustained injuries.
The journalist said he reported the incident at the Rumuepirikom Police Station, where the Divisional Police Officer, CSP John Ayah, deployed patrol teams to arrest those involved. He noted that several suspects were apprehended, including the man he accused of initiating the assault.
According to Opurum, initial claims by the suspects at the police station contradicted his version of events. However, CCTV footage obtained from the fueling station reportedly showed that the elderly man struck first, prompting police to challenge the suspects’ accounts.
He added that a representative of the Arewa community who viewed the footage urged those involved to admit wrongdoing. Following this, the suspects reportedly apologised and compensated him for the damage to his vehicle.
Despite the settlement, Opurum insisted he would escalate the matter to higher authorities, calling for disciplinary action against the police officer accused of damaging his car.
The Rivers State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the incident
