The International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has called on Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to identify and sanction police officers involved in the reported invasion of JKD TV Hamada Radio Network in Millennium City, Kaduna State.
Penpushing reports that the call was contained in a statement issued by Ahmed Shekara (Secretary) and Tobi Soniyi (Legal Adviser) of the Institute and condemned the deployment of heavily armed policemen to the media organization.
The statement described the operation as a troubling reminder of the repression suffered by the Nigerian media during the military era, stressing that the police should not be involved in civil disputes arising from reports published or broadcast by media organisations.
Penpushing further reports that the statement urged anyone aggrieved by a television or radio report to seek redress through the courts, and called on Disu to issue a directive to police formations across the country to refrain from allowing officers to be used to intimidate journalists or civilians.
“The Inspector General of Police is urged to issue an advisory to all police formations to steer clear of civil cases and to stop allowing themselves to be used as weapons to terrorise civilians. Those who carried out the invasion should also be apprehended and reprimanded for carrying out an illegal duty,” the statement read.
Penpushing also reports that the Institute noted that a contingent of armed policemen allegedly invaded JKD TV Hamada Radio Network in Millennium City, Kaduna, in connection with a video explainer produced by the station concerning Ibrahim Masari, the special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on political affairs.
The police reportedly said they were acting on instructions to arrest journalist Zainab Yabagi, whom the Kaduna State Police Command had earlier declared wanted, and during the operation, the station’s General Manager, Charles Abah, and a security guard were allegedly arrested.
Penpushing reports that the Institute described the operation as unlawful and expressed concern over the use of armed police officers in a matter it considers civil, stressing that disputes over media reports should ordinarily be resolved through lawful judicial processes.
The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria National Committee said it had hoped that the appointment of Tunji Disu as Inspector General of Police would usher in a new era of respect for human rights and press freedom.
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