The Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, Mr. Kenechukwu Onwuemelie and the House of Representatives member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency of state, Hon. Obi Aguocha, among others, have faulted Police invasion of an online TV/Radio station in Umuahia, ABN, during a live programme, “Youth Rendezvous” to arrest a guest, one Mr. Bernard Udensi.
The incident, according to Ifeanyi Okali, the Director of the online station, happened “At about 2:40pm on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, the policemen claimed a senior brother of the guest, one Mr Uche Onwuka Udensi had written a petition against him over a family matter.
“Despite repeated pleas by our staff to the officers to allow the programme to come to an end before the guest could be arrested, the policemen insisted on arresting and whisking him away while the live programme was on.
“We are worried by the invasion of our broadcast station in Umuahia by officers of the Nigerian Police, Umuahia Area command in Abia State. We find this very provocative and indeed an act of overzealousness by the officers who obviously acted in clear contravention of rule of engagement and it clearly negates the enhanced police/civil relations which the Commissioner of Police, Kene Onwuemeile has consistently campaigned for.”
The Director also alleged the destruction of studio equipment in the process of the arrest.
“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 as 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”, Okali said, demanding an open apology from the Abia State Command of the Nigerian Police over the attack.
But the State Police Commissioner, Onwuemelie, has paid solidarity visits to the organization.
The CP, who was accompanied by some senior Police officers, apologised for the conduct of his officers, adding that the matter was, after discussions, amicably resolved between the CP and the organization director.
In a press release signed by the command Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Maureen Chinaka on behalf of the CP, disclosed that preliminary investigations into the incident indicated that the Police officers who made the arrest, conducted themselves unprofessionally.
According to the statement, “This is because, while there is no law prohibiting a police officer from making an arrest in a studio, the facts surrounding the particular case being investigated by the police officers do not warrant such actions.
“However, the officers have been defaulted and their orderly room trial commences today. If found guilty they will be disciplined accordingly.
”The Abia State Police Command is committed to maintaining a professionally competent, service-driven, rule-of-law compliant, and people-friendly Police Force, in line with the vision of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Ebetokun.”
Also condemning the invasion, the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency of state, Hon. Obi Aguocha, in a visit to the organisation, said the police personnel failed to adhere to the minimal rule of engagement, noting that Nigeria is a nation of law and order.
The lawmaker, while expressing his sympathy with the guest and ABN TV over the damages caused in the studio by the forceful invasion, said, “I am here to see for myself. It’s part of my constituency outreach to note the concerns of ABN TV and the concerns of teeming citizens of Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency and indeed Abia State.”
Hon. Aguocha expressed his confidence on the ability of the state Commissioner of Police in Abia State, CP Kenechukwu Onwuemeile in ensuring that the erring personnel are sanctioned according to the law and urged the police to end the era of harassing and illegally arresting Nigerians without due processes of the law.
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