By Patrick Moryor, Margibi fellow
On April 9, 2025, the Margibi Young Journalists Association, led by Joekai G. Yango, issued a press statement claiming that Ivar K. Jones, the Margibi County District #2 Representative office staff (security), allegedly attacked one of their members, journalist Emmanuel T. Lloyd, while covering a solar-light installation project initiated by the lawmaker.
Jones, a two-term lawmaker of District #2, MarGibi County, was elected during the 2017 General Elections and re-elected in 2023 .
Verification: To verify this claim, we contacted some journalists who were on the scene, including Sylvester Burgess, Jr., Joshua B. Freeman, and Alex D. Juah.
Burgess is the owner of CAMRY Online Television; Freeman is a freelancer, while Juah reports for GIBI FM and Afrik Media.
Those journalists explained to our Margibi County fellow that the incident occurred during a misunderstanding that erupted among supporters of Jones and Robert Francis Okai, a critic of Jones and a staunch supporter of defeated MarGibi District #2 representative candidate Christopher Orebel.
According to them, while Jones' supporters were arguing, journalist Emmanuel T. Lloyd started recording the event without being authorized to do so and threatened that he would play it on the radio and publish it on social media.
A situation that got Jones' security annoyed and took Lloyd's smartphone and deleted the recording without any physical assault.
Reacting to the MAYJA press statement, George Christopher Wleh, Jones' political officer, denied the claim, classifying it as untrue.
Wleh narrated that after completing the solar light installation in two towns along with journalist Lloyd and others, they moved to Momo Town, at which time Okai had gone there on a motorbike.
Okai had three bags of coal and began to use incentives on Jones in the presence of journalist Lloyd and other media workers, a dramatic situation that lasted for more than ten minutes, according to Wleh.
According to Wleh, while the exchange of words was going on, other journalists on the scene tried to restore calm by talking with both Okai and Jones' team and Lloyd did not say a word of caution to either of them.
At the same time, Wleh noted a youth of Momo Town got annoyed at Robert Francis Okain due to his persistent use of abusive language against the representative and even attempted to flip him, an act that caused Robert to lose balance on his bike, causing it to fall.
Wleh further asserted that it was at the point where journalist Lloyd decided to video record the scene after being mute when Robert was demonstrating and he (Lloyd) could not say a word.
We contacted Lloyd, who said he recorded Jones' staffers' portion of the conversation because it was newsworthy-it.
"Rep. Jones' staff took my phone and deleted the recording and every other photo I took during the tour but he (Rep. Jones) was far from the scene."
Lloyd said Okai abused Jones in the presence but said the issue was settled during the tour.
On the other hand, Press Union President Julius Kullie Kanubah confirmed that he received a formal complaint from MAYJA leadership via WhatsApp.
He said journalists do not need another permit once he or she is invited to a program.
"A politician does not have any right to delete a recording or photo from a journalist's phone under no circumstances. It's not advisable to get involved, but you can help based on the gravity of the riot."
He added that the leadership of PUL has taken charge of the complaint, and at the appropriate time both parties will be called for investigation through the National Media Council.
Conclusion: Based on our findings, the statement issued by the Margibi Young Journalists Association, claiming that Ivar K. Jones, Margibi County District #2 representative office staff (security), allegedly attacked one of their members, is True.
