Men of the Abia State Police Command reportedly stormed a television station ABN TV in Umuahia and arrest a guest Udensi Donald during a live programme.

The programme, Youth Rendezvous, was anchored by Grace Onyekachi.

Ifeanyi Okali, the Director of ABN TV/Radio, disclosed this in a statement post he shared on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

Mr Okali said the station considers the incident as “an attack on press freedom and most especially open violation of the human right to expression,” given that it happened during a live programme where important issues, such as youth development, were being discussed.

He said “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 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.”

The director added that during the police invasion, some of the station’s broadcast equipment was damaged, including a laptop, camera, and microphones.

“It has left us with huge financial losses. We are calling for the replacement of the affected tools.”

“We demand an open apology from Abia State Command of the Nigerian Police over this unprovoked attack in our studio,” he said.