–But Rep. Kiazolu Excepts; Survives Violence on His Home

IPNEWS-NEWS: The Management of OK FM Liberia says the humiliation of its reporter Nyantee Togba on the orders of Montserrado County District #17 Representative, Hanson Kiazolu is anti-democratic and shameful.

According to a press statement issued in Monrovia Friday, July 30, 2021, reporter Togba was attacked while providing live coverage for a protest before the home of Rep. Hanson Kiazolu for OK FM’S Live Facebook Page.

Protesters gathered before the home of the lawmaker to seek explanation on the expenditure of the controversial US$ 30k given each lawmaker in the Liberian Legislature.

Reporter Nyantee was attacked on live video while pleads to identify himself as a journalist was rejected. Pictures of Nyantee later emerged on social media seating on the floor along the protesters in the compound of Montserrado County District #17 Representative Hanson Kiazolu.

Reporter Nyantee’s phone that was being used for the live coverage was seized by the mob acting on instructions of Rep. Kiazolu. The reporter and the protesters were taken away by officers of the Liberia National Police invited by the lawmaker.

The Management of OK FM Liberia says such conduct of an elected official of government is a careless move intended to push journalists into self-censorship and limit much needed public scrutiny of individuals elected by the people as driven by the works of journalists.

Journalists in the employs of OK FM and other journalists, the broadcaster stressed will not succumb to harassments from intolerant politicians who are against the sacred and constitutionally defined role of the media in the Liberian democracy.

​The Radio Station is at the same time calling on the Press Union of Liberia to act forcefully in the interest of press freedom in Liberia.

Meanwhile, when IPNEWS conducted the Montserrado County District Representative, Hanson Kiazolu via phone, he labeled OK FM‘s allegation against him as farfetched and far from the reality.

Denied every ordering any resident of his District to attack anybody who had gone to his house to protest. He said while he and his family were in bed around 5am, his neighbors and community members noticed about four strange persons wearing face masks at his gate and were attempting to place a chain and lock him in. He stated one of the guys was trying jump over the fence as the others threw objects in his fence.

Continuing, Rep. Kiazolu said their action prompted community members to rush to his rescue to prevent the four persons from carrying out violence against their lawmaker and his family.

He said he did not come out of the fence to see what was happening outside but the community members apprehended three of the guys who were carrying out the act, with one escaping. “The police was called in and extracted the perpetrators and took them to the Depot,” he stated.

Commenting on whether he gave order for OK FM journalist Nyantee Togba to be beaten by his community members, Rep. Kiazolu said he did not know of a journalists being among those who the police took away until when he got to the station to give a statement of what obtained at the gate of his residence. “It was the police who told me that one of the guys apprehended identified himself as a journalist so I can emphatically state that I did not order anybody to attack the alleged protesters outside of my compound in Virginia,” Rep. Kiazolu pointed out.

The District #17 lawmaker disclosed that he is expected to write a statement and give it to the police to enhance the investigation of what transpired at the fence of his compound early Friday morning. “The matter has to go to court for the truth to come out. Let no one hide behind the journalism profession and do things outside of the law. About his phone he said was taken away, the journalist needs to identify who took his phone away because according to the community members he reportedly rode on the same motorbike with the four persons who attacked my home early Friday morning,” the lawmaker stated.