The International Press Center IPC’s Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ) said it is extremely dismayed and frowns at the reported police invasion of ABN TV and forced arrest of a guest during a live programme in Umuahia on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.
In a press statement signed by the Press Officer, Melody Akinjimi and made available to journalists yesterday in Lokoja, the Centre decried the flagrant use of power by the police who refused all entreaties to allow the quest to finish the program before the arrest, reports Daily Independent.
According to the statement, information reaching, I-CSPJ from its field monitor reveals that, “At about 2.40pm on Tuesday, January 16, 2023, the policemen invaded the station during a live programme, Youth Rendezvous to arrest a guest, Mr. Udensi Donald during a programme.”
“The police claimed a senior brother of the guest had written a petition against him over a family matter. Despite repeated plea by the staff to the officers to allow the programme come to an end before the guest could be arrested, they insisted on whisking him away while the live programme was on,” the Station’s Director, Ifeanyi Okali stated.
The Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said, “this provocative action by the police is simply an act of overzealousness which was unnecessary. The officers could easily have waited for the live programme to end before swinging into action.
“I-CSPJ is therefore calling on the Commissioner of Police, CP Kene Onwuemeile to call his officers to order and also ensure that the items belonging to the station which were damaged in the course of the invasion be replaced.
“I-CSPJ is also demanding an apology on behalf of the affected station.”
