Benue State Government, on Thursday, sealed off the radio station owned by former Senate President, Dr. David Mark, in Otukpo in a commando-style operation.
Joy FM 96.5 Otukpo, established in 2006, was invaded around 1 pm by two trucks filled with armed policemen.
The team was led by the Chairman of Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Mr. Sunday Odagba, and Mr. Ikwue Ikwue of the State Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Otukpo Zone.
Staff members on duty were reportedly manhandled during the incident, while Mr. Oloche Adeyi, who was broadcasting the 1 pm network news, was forced at gunpoint to abruptly halt the bulletin—an action that goes against media and broadcast ethics.
The Managing Director of Joy FM, Amb. Christabel Iyanya, confirmed the unfortunate incident to our correspondent.
“They came and took siege on the station and caused pandemonium, as nobody was aware of their coming or the reason they have to invade a running station with two trucks of armed policemen.
“They manhandled my staff on duty, right from the receptionist, Juliana Ameh, one of our old staff members, Mallam Jibrin, my head of news, Cletus Ogbaje; and even went to the studio with heavily armed policemen and forced Oloche Adeyi, who was reading the 1 pm news to stop the bulletin, at gunpoint.
“They entered all the offices and drove everybody out at gunpoint. Unfortunately, I was away in Igumale, Ado Local Government Headquarters, to attend to a business. All our entrance doors were destroyed.
“This is the height of it. I only watch this in movies. I have never heard nor seen a media house being invaded with such a large number of armed men, over what they call business premises. They said the station was owing N150,000 for business premises. This, we were not aware of.
“The people who led this operation, especially, Ikwue Ikwue, is from the same locality with me. He sees me all the time. If my station was owing any bill, he should have told me and I would pay immediately. We have been operating for almost two decades and we have never defaulted in the payment of any bills or taxes, whatsoever.”
“This is beyond tax. This is something they will have to explain to us. This stands condemned. We are definitely going to contest this,” Iyanya, who is also the Deputy National Chairman, Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (SNB) added.
