The International Press Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ) has condemned the reported invasion of ABN TV leading to a forceful arrest of a guest, Udensi donald during a live programme on the Television in Umuahia on Tuesday 16th, January, 2024 and the destruction of some of the station’s equipment. A statement by
The International Press Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ) has condemned the reported invasion of ABN TV leading to a forceful arrest of a guest, Udensi donald during a live programme on the Television in Umuahia on Tuesday 16th, January, 2024 and the destruction of some of the station’s equipment.
A statement by Melody Akinjiyan, I-CSPJ Programme Officer, today stated that the event took place at around 2.40 pm during a TV programme ‘Youth Rendezvous’ when the police into the station to arrest one Mr. Udensi Donald based on the account of a petition against him by his elder brother on family matters, adding that the police refused to listen to the staff of the television station despite pleading with them.
The statement, which quoted the Television Station’s Director, Ifeanyi Okali, further explained that the police refused to give respect to the station’s intervention but decided to whisk Mr Donald away from a live programme which he was presenting at the time of the event.
“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 (Police) insisted on whisking him away while the live programme was on,” the Station’s Director, Ifeanyi Okali stated.
Reacting to the incident, the Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade described the police operations as a provocative action which was unnecessary, indicating that the overzealous act of the police was unwarranted. “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”, he said.
IPC therefore called on the commissioner of Police in the state, Kene Onwuemeile to “ 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”.
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