Abia NUJ bemoans invasion of ABN TV Headquarters by the Police

From Moshood Olawale Karim
The Abia State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists has condemned in its entirety the commando-like manner in which the operatives of the police in the State stormed the premises of the All Breaking News ABN TV headquarters to carry out the arrest of a suspect rather than doing so at the suspect’s home.
In a statement by the Union, the police stormed into the station’s premises to arrest a guest who was scheduled to appear on a live programme. It appears that the incident was a result of a petition against the guest, which contained his address. The manner in which the police carried out the operation is quite concerning as it could create fear and tension among journalists and media organizations in the State.
It is worth noting that the police could have easily gone to the guest’s known address to effect the arrest, rather than invading the TV station’s premises. This raises questions about the level of professionalism and respect for due process among some law enforcement personnel.
The Abia NUJ noted this action by the police is capable of diminishing the cordial relationship that has existed between security agencies in the State and journalists calling on police hierarchy in the State to put a stop to ill-motivated attacks.
The statement reads: “The Abia State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) is in receipt of a complaint relating to the primitive invasion of All Breaking News (ABN) TV headquarters on Azikiwe Road, Umuahia, by operatives of Abia State Police Command, in a calculated move to nab a guest who came to participate in a live programme in the station.
“This invasion leaves a sour taste in the mouth and should be condemned by well-meaning Nigerians, given that the Police operatives knew where they ought to hunt for their suspect given that the petition against him must have contained his address.
“It is pertinent to recall that few years back, the Police in Abia, in a similar gestapo fashion, invaded Flo FM, Umuahia, also to arrest a guest invited to a live programme.
“In September 2017, military personnel invaded the NUJ Press Centre in Umuahia and not only assaulted journalists but equally destroyed their tools of trade.
“These attacks refuse to take into account, the robust relationship the media in Abia has fostered with security agencies in the state over the years.
“We want to state categorically that these attacks are in bad taste, designed to harm the media industry as they have the propensity to make media houses endangered zones for guests invited to live programmes and muzzle plurality of opinions which oil democracy.
“In an era when live programming has become the fashion in broadcasting, arresting guests who honour invitations to live programmes translates to a systematic but crude means of putting the media out of business occasioned by resultant damages to costly, sensitive equipment and scaring people away.”

We call on the Police hierarchy in the state to reign in their men and put a stop to such ill-motivated attacks.
The Council alligns with the management of ABN TV in their demand for unreserved apology from and replacement of damaged equipment by the Police.

Both the Police and the Media are working for the good of society and it does not make for good synergy for the Police, and any other security agencies for that matter, to unduly put the media at a disadvantage.