IPC Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ) says it is extremely dismayed and frowns at the report of police invasion of ABN TV and forced arrest of a guest during a live programme in Umuahia on Tuesday, 16th January, 2024.
A statement issued by Melody Akinjiyan, Press Freedom Officer, I-CSPJ simply reads: “Information reaching, I-CSPJ from our field monitor reveals that, at about 2.40pm on Tuesday, January 16, 2023, policemen invaded ABN Tv station during a live programme to arrest a guest, Mr. Udensi Donald
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,” as disclosed by the Station’s Director, Ifeanyi Okali.
The Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade in the statement said, “this provocative action by the police is simply an act of overzealousness which was unnecessary. The officers could have easily waited for the live programme to end before swinging into action.”
The statement says I-CSPJ is 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 are replaced.
“I-CSPJ is also demanding an apology on behalf of the affected station”, the statement added.