ABN STUDIO INVASION: MANAGEMENT DEMANDS REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED WORK TOOLS FROM POLICE

By Editor, Umuahia

The management of ABN TV/Radio online station in Umuahia has condemned an unwarranted invasion of its studio on Azikiwe road by the men if the Abia state police command.

In a viral video, some police men were seen barging into a live studio at the ABN station during a programme being hosted by Grace Dorcas with a guest, Mr. Uche Udensi.

It is still not clear what the motive for the action was, but the policemen forcefully took the guest who had resisted arrest for not knowing his offence.

Several gadgets in the studio were reportedly damaged in the course of forcing Mr. Udensi out from the studio .

The management in a press statement signed by the director, Mr. Ifeanyi Okali regrets that the actions of the policemen totally “negates the civil-police relations” being championed by the commissioner of police, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie.

The statement further demanded for the replacement of all the damaged tools.

Full text below:

*PRESS RELEASE*

The Invasion Of ABN TV/Radio Station By Police in Umuahia Alarming 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 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.When the Director of the media organization who was in Aba for an assignment was informed of the development, he quickly reached out to the Commissioner of Police who immediately invited staff of ABN TV/Radio to properly brief him on what happened, officers on duty barricaded the door and harassed, intimidated and threatened to detain them. We also want to put on record, during the gestapo arrest, many of our broadcast equipment were fatally damaged, including a laptop, camera and microphones. We find this an attack on press freedom and most especially open violation of human right to expression, having taken place during a live broadcast where critical issues about youth development were being discussed. We demand an open apology from the Abia State Command of the Nigerian Police over this unprovoked attack in our studio. It has equally left us with huge financial losses following the damage of our equipment. We are also calling for the replacement of the affected tools. From all indications, the officers were not properly schooled on best approaches to relate with the civil populace in a democratic environment where the media plays a key role to enhance their relations with the generality of the society. Signed:*Ifeanyi Okali**Director ABN TV/Radio**17/01/2024*