IPC’s CSPJ Frowns on Police Invasion of ABN TV

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The International Press Center (IPC) Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ) has expressed dismay over the reported invasion of ABN TV by a police team to arrest a guest during a live programme in Umuahia, Abia State, on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.

A press statement signed by the Press Freedom Officer, I-CSPJ, Mr. Melody Akinjiyan, said that information reaching the I-CSPJ from its field monitor revealed that “at about 2.40p.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2023, policemen invaded the station during a live programme, Youth Rendezvous, to arrest a guest, Mr. Udensi Donald during the programme.”

Akinjiyan said that the police claimed that a senior brother of the guest had written a petition against him over a family matter.

The statement added that the Station’s Director, Ifeanyi Okali stated that despite repeated plead by the staff to the officers to allow the programme come to an end before the guest could be arrested, the police still whisked him away while the live programme was on.

The Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said: “this provocative action by the police is simply an act of over zealousness 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 ensure that the items belonging to the station, which were damaged in the course of the invasion, be replaced.

It also demanded an apology on behalf of the affected station.