Media consultant and former journalist with Legit.ng, Anthony Eshemokhai narrowly escaped being killed after armed men suspected to be paid political thugs visited horror on his house in Lagos.
According to Eshemokhai, his travails started after he stopped doing a political image whitewash PR for powerful Nigerian politicians as a journalist. His new move of writing critical reviews of their activities, against his previous role of painting them well before the public, caused a strain on his relationship with these powerful politicians, eventually culminating in an attempt on his life and the safety of his family.
In 2020, Eshemokhai became a preacher at his local church, the Christ Anointing Revival Interdenominational Ministry(CARM. He would use this new platform to preach against and educate his congregation about political vote buying and electoral malpractice. His teachings centered on the need to elect credible leaders and eschew inducement by corrupt politicians. This would set him against his former friends, making him a target for elimination in his locality by those who saw him as an influential activist against their ill electoral interest ahead of the 2023 Nigerian elections.
Credit: Facebook/ Christ Anointing Revival Interdenominational Ministry. CARM.
Eshemokhai would further amplify his activism with publications in Nigerian local news platforms and blogs. His actions attracted threatening phone calls from unknown persons.
On the 26th of July, 2024, he narrowly escaped being killed after a group of thugs attacked his home in the Alapere area of Lagos. His wife and children were manhandled and several of his properties were destroyed.
The thugs repeatedly asked for the whereabouts of Eshemokhai who had just left home for an errand before they attacked. Speaking with REPORT AFRIQUE, he said he was lucky to have left home before the attackers arrived.
His family would seek refuge in a church premises for days after the attack. He reunited with them days after making police entries at the Alapere Police Divisional Headquarters in Lagos.
Journalists in Nigeria constantly do their work with fears of attacks from government-sponsored agents. A report by The Committee to Protect Journalists says at least 56 journalists were assaulted or harassed by Nigerian security forces in 2024. The report also claims that attacks on the press often spike during moments of political unrest.
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