Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has declared war on the print media in Anambra State as his aides destroyed newspapers and beat up vendors in the State capital, Awka.
Officials of the State government have been complaining about the negative reports of the media against Governor Soludo, blaming them for not supporting the Governor and his government.
On Thursday, officials of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) raided the newspaper stands, saying that the State government does not want any Newspaper to be sold again on the streets.
In the process, heaps of newspapers were destroyed, including printed editions of The Sun, Nation, Vanguard, Punch, and Guardian.
The vendors’ tables were equally destroyed, while their umbrellas were confiscated by the agents of the government.
The Governor’s aides also beat up people at the popular Aroma Junction, destroying PoS machines.
Residents of the State capital who witnessed the brutal activities of officials of ACTDA on passersby and petty traders in the area rained curses on the agents of the State government.
Reacting to the development, Governor Soludo’s Chief Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, said he was not aware of the situation, but promised to reach out to the Managing Director of the agency.
Aburime, however, maintained that keeping Anambra clean was for everyone, adding that “even in Lagos, newspaper vendors are allowed to exist at their different designated areas.”