The policemen, who claimed that they tracked the guest to the studio, damaged some equipment belonging to the station in the process.
Global human rights body, Amnesty International, has condemned in strongest terms, the invasion of ABN TV/Radio station in Umuahia, Abia State capital by personnel of the State Police Command during a live programme.
SaharaReporters reported on Wednesday that police personnel invaded ABN TV in Umuahia on Tuesday and forcibly arrested a guest, Mr Udensi Donald, during a live programme, “Youth Rendezvous,” anchored by Grace Onyekachi.
The policemen, who claimed that they tracked the guest to the studio, damaged some equipment belonging to the station in the process.
A video of the invasion seen by SaharaReporters on Wednesday showed two policemen in mufti and one other person shouting in the studio.
Reacting to the incident on Thursday on X (formerly Twitter), Amnesty International described the arrest of the station’s guest on “Youth Rendezvous” programme, Mr Udensi Donald, as arbitrary.
“Amnesty International condemns the invasion of the studios of ABN TV/Radio Umuahia Abia State by the Nigeria Police and the arbitrary arrest of a suspect who was participating in a live programme ‘Youth Rendezvous.’”
SaharaReporters also earlier reports that the Abia State Police Commissioner, Mr Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, apologised for the unprofessional conduct of the officers.
The Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chinaka, in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday said that the police commissioner tendered the apology when he visited the studio on Thursday.
The police spokesperson said that “Preliminary investigations into the incident indicate that the police officers who made the arrest conducted themselves unprofessionally.
“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 defaulted, and their orderly room trial commences today (Thursday). If found guilty, they will be disciplined accordingly.”