CCTV footages have exonerated a Channels TV reporter, Charles Opurum, who was allegedly ass@ulted by group of hoodlums who nearly pinned the incident on him.
Giving an account of what transpired, Charles said Channels Television reporter, Charles Opurum, he was violently attacked by a group of hoodlums inside a fuel station in Rumuola, Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital on Tuesday, March 25.
According to Charles,the altercation began when he honked at a vehicle blocking the entrance to the station. He alleged that things took a different turn when the elderly man, believed to be from the North, got irritated at him for honking, walked up to him and gave him a slap which he said he returned with the same aggression. He said shortly after, he was surrounded and physically assaulted by a group of men at the station.
He further alleged that a police officer attached to the station damaged his car’s windshields during the chaos, while another individual sustained injury after reportedly clinging to his moving vehicle as he tried to escape.
He said he immediately reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Rumuepirikom Division, CSP John Ayah, who deployed patrol teams to arrest those involved. He mentioned that while at the station, the suspects attempted to twist the narrative, alleging he attacked them first. However, CCTV footage reviewed by authorities reportedly showed that the elderly man initiated the ass@ult on him.
He mentioned that following the review, some of the suspects allegedly admitted fault and offered compensation for the damages to his vehicle, an offer he accepted.
Opurum, while appreciating the DPO’s response, stated he plans to escalate the matter to the Commissioner of Police, insisting that the officer who damaged his vehicle should be held accountable.
In his words
‘’Yesterday I suffered a very vicious attack at the hands of ndi Aboki at Restopark fueling station Rumuola.
On trying to access the station to buy petrol for my car the entrance was blocked by a vehicle apparently negotiating with an elderly northerner. I kept honking for him to get out of the way so I could pass. It took them over 15 seconds before the vehicle moved. The northerner starts cussing me out for honking at them. Me too I replied him from within my car as I drove past him towards the pump.
As I alighted from the vehicle, the man approached me aggressively and slapped me unprovoked. I immediately returned the slap with power that knocked him back.
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In a split second I was surrounded by Aboki people there. They were hitting me from all angles, but I managed to drive away from there. However a policeman attached to the fueling station astonishingly damaged my front and back windshields. One of them that was hanging on my vehicle and punching me fell off as I was driving away and my tire climbed his foot.
I immediately went to the police to report. The DPO of Rumuepirikom police station, CSP John Ayah sent 3 patrol vehicles to arrest the perpetrators. Can you imagine that all the Aboki people there came out like ants to resist the police?
Anyways the baba that caused the issue by sl@pping me was picked up along with a handful of others. On seeing me, the manager of the fueling station expressed his regrets at how I was treated and provided me with the CCTV footage of the incident. Now the story shifts to the DPO’s office.
These Aboki people twisted the story and said I attacked them first. He claimed that he was kneeling and begging me and that as I drove in I came down and started beating him. The other guy who was injured said he was on his own when I ran him over. The policeman from the fueling station claimed he thought I was one of those people who came to buy fuel and run away without paying and that’s why he smashed my windshields. The DPO told him he was very stupid for saying that.
Anyways, after they watched the CCTV footage the DPO said “baba na you first slap am! Camera don show say na you first slap am.” The secretary of the Rivers Arewa community saw the video and told them to keep quiet. He spoke in Hausa to them and they all kept quiet. As for the one who said I ran him over unprovoked, the footage showed him hanging from my vehicle as I drove away, it showed how he fell off. Joe and Ogochukwu said afterwards that they twisted the story that I came there and attacked a woman and the baba was trying to intervene and I slapped him. Na wa!!
Anyways, they started begging me for forgiveness, they paid for me to get a new set of windshields as well as fix the dents on my car.
While that’s okay, it’s not enough for me as I’m going to see the CP this morning to make sure that useless policeman is dealt with ruthlessly for damaging my windshields.
I thank the DPO for his proactive response and professionalism.”
... CCTV Footage Exonerates Channels TV Reporter After He Was Allegedly Ass@ulted By Group Of Hoodlums Who Nearly Pinned The Incident On Him (Trending Video) ... Sportify Post.