A journalist, Amadi Precious, was severely assaulted by some members and pastors of Salvation Ministries’ headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday.
The attack nearly cost him his sight after he attempted to raise an alarm about a fire outbreak within the church premises.
Amadi, a broadcast journalist with Savealife 88.9 FM and a member of the church, was on his way home when he noticed flames emerging from the premises of the church at GRA Phase 1. Seeing that church members were frantically throwing buckets of water at the inferno in the absence of firefighters, he felt compelled to assist.
Driven by his duty as both a journalist and a church member, Amadi stepped onto the premises and joined in efforts to salvage valuable items while recording a short video to alert emergency responders. His intention was to call public attention to the fire, hoping that authorities would respond swiftly.
“When I got closer, I realized it was a full-blown fire,” Amadi recounted. “The church was engulfed in flames. I recorded an SOS video alerting the public that there was a fire incident at the church.”
After capturing the footage, he actively participated in removing chairs and other items to prevent further damage. However, despite his genuine intentions, his actions were misinterpreted by some members and leaders of the church.
From Rescuer to Victim
While recording a live video on Facebook to further alert firefighters, Amadi’s good intentions took a dark turn. Church members who had earlier worked alongside him suddenly became hostile, accusing him of being a spy attempting to tarnish the reputation of their general overseer, Pastor David Ibiyeomie.
“I was still using one hand to push chairs out while calling on the fire service when everything changed in a moment,” he narrated. “The same people I was helping turned on me. They labeled me a spy and an informant, accusing me of trying to damage the church’s image.”
In a violent outburst, nearly 20 men and women pounced on him, landing blows, slaps, and even using metal objects to strike him. The primary focus of their assault was his face, particularly his left eye.
“They were deliberately aiming for my eyes, as if they wanted to blind me,” he said. “My only offense was recording a video to seek help.”
In the midst of the attack, his iPhone 14 and Samsung Galaxy S8 were seized, and the videos he had recorded were deleted. However, the perpetrators overlooked his iCloud and the phone’s recycle bin, which preserved the deleted content.
A Harrowing Ordeal
As he struggled to escape, his attackers continued their aggression, shouting accusations of theft to incite further violence against him. One even threatened to throw him into a septic tank.
“I managed to break free, but they chased me, shouting ‘Hold him! Criminal! Thief!’ That was how my live video ended,” he said.
Amadi was eventually dragged into a security room, where he was detained in darkness. “Different people took turns beating me inside that room. I could not see their faces clearly, but the pain was unbearable,” he recounted.
Despite revealing that he was a member of the church’s Rukpokwu satellite branch, his pleas for understanding fell on deaf ears. When he identified himself as a journalist, the assault only intensified.
The ordeal lasted for nearly three hours before the church’s overseer’s personal assistant intervened and ordered his release.
Seeking Justice and Medical Care
Following his release, Amadi sought medical attention at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, where he spent thousands of naira on treatment. Concerned about potential long-term damage, he planned to undergo further eye examinations to assess internal injuries.
He also reported the incident to the police at Olu Obasanjo Road, Port Harcourt, hoping for justice.
“Imagine if I had not raised the alarm,” he reflected. “Firefighters eventually came and put out the fire. But instead of appreciation, I was brutalized.”
Church’s Response
Attempts to reach the church’s administrators for comments were unsuccessful. The phone numbers listed on the church’s official documents and website were not connecting, and text messages sent to them remained unanswered.
However, in an official statement, an administrator downplayed the fire incident, referring to it as a “minor outbreak.”
“This is to assuage concerns from the general public regarding the minor fire outbreak from the parking store within the church premises on Saturday, 15th of March, 2025,” the statement read. “It is important to clarify that all facilities within the premises are intact. Therefore, all regular activities and operations will continue as scheduled.”
The statement did not acknowledge the attack on the journalist. Instead, the church urged the public to “disregard any false information” while appreciating the concerns expressed.
As of press time, there has been no official apology or action taken by the church regarding the assault on Amadi Precious.
