Men from the Abia State Police Command were claimed to have stormed ABN TV in Umuahia on Tuesday and forcibly arrested a guest, Mr. Udensi Donald, during a live broadcast of “Youth Rendezvous,” hosted by Grace Onyekachi.
Ifeanyi Okali, Director of ABN TV/Radio, confirmed this in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
Okali denounced the incursion as a threat to press freedom and human rights.
He stated, “We are concerned about the invasion of our broadcast station in Umuahia by officers from 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 said that during the attack, some station property was destroyed.
He requested an apology from the state police commander.
