By Comfort Olayinka
In a commando style, the Benue State Government, on Thursday, sealed off the radio station, belonging to former President of the Senate, Dr. David Mark, in Otukpo.
Joy FM, 96.5 Otukpo, established in 2006, was the first private radio station in North Central Nigeria.
The station which covers over 7 states in Nigeria, due to its high frequency modulator, was invaded around 1pm on Thursday, with two trucks laden 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 on duty were said to have been rough handled in the process, while Mr. Oloche Adeyi, who was in the studio casting 1pm network news was forced at gunpoint to abruptly terminate the news in the bulletin, a culture that is antithetical to broadcast and media practice.
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 2 trucks of armed Policemen.
“They rough handled my staff on duty, right from the receptionist, Juliana Ameh, one of our old staff, 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 1pm news to stop the bulletin, at gun point.
“They entered all the offices and drove everybody out at gun point. 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 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 2 decades and we have never defaulted in 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 test this”, Iyanya, who is also the National Vice Chairman of Broadcasters Organization of Nigerian (BON), added.
