The Abia State Police Command reportedly stormed ABN TV in Umuahia on Tuesday, forcefully apprehending a guest, Mr. Udensi Donald, during the live program “Youth Rendezvous” hosted by Grace Onyekachi.
Ifeanyi Okali, the Director of ABN TV/Radio, shared this information in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday.
Okali described the invasion as a provocation against press freedom and human rights.
He said, “We are worried by the invasion of our broadcast station in Umuahia by officers of the Nigerian Police, Umuahia Area Command in Abia State.
“At about 2:40pm on Tuesday, January 16, 2023, the policemen invaded our station during a live programme to arrest our guest, one Mr. Udensi Donald during a programme, Youth Rendezvous.
“The police claimed a senior brother of the guest, one Mr Uche Onwuka Udensi had written a petition against him over a family matter.
“Despite repeated plea by our 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.
“We find this very provocative and indeed an act of overzealousness by the officers who obviously acted in clear contravention of rule of engagement.
“It clearly also negates the enhanced police-civil relations which the Commissioner of Police, CP Kene Onwuemeile, has consistently campaigned for.”
Okali asserted that in the course of the intrusion, certain belongings of the station were reportedly harmed. He called for an apology from the state police command.