The police claimed a senior brother of the guest, one Mr Uche Onwuka Udensi had written a petition against him over a family matter.
By Clinton Asuoha
The police in Abia invaded the ABN TV in Umuahia on Tuesday and aggressively arrested a guest of the TV/radio station, Mr. Udensi Donald, during a live programme “Youth Rendezvous” anchored by Grace Onyekachi.
The Director of ABN TV/Radio, Ifeanyi Okali, revealed this on his Facebook page on Wednesday. He 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 force, Umuahia Area Command in Abia State.
“At about 2:40pm on Tuesday, January 16, 2023, 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.”
Mr. Okali claimed that some items belonging to the station were destroyed and vandalized during the invasion process
Thus, he demanded an apology from the state police command.