Some members and pastors at the headquarters of Pastor David Ibiyeomie’s Salvation Ministries in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, brutalised and almost blinded journalist Amadi Precious on Saturday.

Amadi, a broadcast journalist with the Port Harcourt-based Savealife 88.9 FM and a member of the church, was heading home when he noticed fire from the church at GRA Phase 1.

The church members were throwing buckets of water at the inferno as firefighters were not immediately available.

Amadi felt a sense of responsibility and walked into the church premises where joined members of the church in salvaging some assets while trying to put out the fire.

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He recorded an SOS video, alerting the public with the hope of facilitating an urgent response from the city’s public firefighters.

“When I got closer, I realised it was a full-blown fire. The church was engulfed in flames. I first recorded an SOS video alerting the public that there was a fire incident at the church,” Amadi recounted.

“I walked into the place after I was done with the short video because I did not just want to record the video without offering any physical assistance. Meanwhile, that is my church’s headquarters.

“When I got into the place, I saw that they were throwing buckets of waters at the fire and rather than quench it, the water was increasing its scale. The fire was gradually spreading from one of the building floors downwards and it was already touching some chairs.”

Two video clips obtained by FIJ showed fire raging close to a water stanchion and a tiny but tall mast.

He lent his support by quickly removing some chairs from the scene to avoid further spread of the inferno.

“I advised them to take the chairs away and they obliged. We started carrying the chairs. The God that I serve that bear me witness, I kept calling the fire service. Only one number out of all fire service lines went through without any response,” Amadi said.

PASTORS TURNED TO ASSAULTERS

Soon after he started recording a live video of the incident on Facebook, the people with whom he was lifting some items turned against him, accusing him of being a spy sent to malign the general overseer’s reputation.

“I then started a live SOS on Facebook while still using another hand to push some chairs out. In the video, I was saying ‘Please, fire at Salvation Ministries’. I was calling on the fire service authorities in the state for help,” Amadi narrated.

“I did not suspect any danger because they knew I was with them salvaging some properties. In a twinkle of an eye, the same people with whom I was running up and down to save the situation discovered that I was recording the video and violently descended on me.

“I started wondering what could have warranted their action. I then heard them label me as ‘a spy’, ‘an informant’ and asking what gave me the effrontery to record the event. They were claiming I was sent to malign the image of David Ibiyeomie, the church’s general overseer, with the recordings.

“About 20 people, men and women, beat me and I became powerless. I could not resist them as they were hitting me with metals, landing heavy slaps and punches were coming left, right and centre. It appeared some of them intended to blind me because they strictly focused on the orbital region of my left eye.

“My only offence was recording that video. They seized my iPhone 14 and Samsung Galaxy S8 and deleted the videos, but they were not smart enough to (check) my iCloud and recycle bin. When I struggled to escape from them, they ran after me shouting ‘Hold him! Criminal! Thief!’ and that was how the live video ended.

“Someone even threatened to throw me inside a septic tank and nobody would be aware. They later locked me inside a security room and switched off the light. What followed were several individuals taking turns in beating me in the room. I could not see their faces clearly.

“In my mind, I thought identifying myself as a member of the church at Rukpokwu satellite branch would set me free but they failed to be persuaded. I narrated the attack to my pastor and he simply apologised, saying I cannot win [against] the church.

“The greatest mistake I made was introducing myself as a journalist after the initial introduction failed to calm them.

“The beating starting about 8:30 pm. I spent close to 3 hours in their detention. I heard them say the general overseer was not in the country. It was past 12 am before the overseer’s personal assistant came to the room and ordered my release.”

Amadi had to visit the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital immediately after his assaulters released him on Sunday for medical treatment, spending several thousands of naira. He also reported to the police at Olu Obasanjo Road in the city.

“I am going to do an eye test to know whether there are internal injuries in my eyes,” Amadi added.

“While they were beating me, firefighters came and contained the fire. Imagine if I had not raised the alarm.”

FIJ was unable to reach the church administrators for comments. The two phone numbers on the church’s letterhead and another one available on its website were not connecting and text messages sent had not received responses at press time.

However, an administrator at the church reduced the inferno to a “minor incident” in an official statement.

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The church failed to acknowledge the assault on the 35-year-old journalist.

“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. It is important for us to clarify that all facilities within the premises are intact. Therefore, all regular activities and operations will continue as scheduled,” the church stated.

“We hereby urge everyone to disregard any false information and we appreciate concerns expressed by members of the public.”