In a dramatic and unprecedented move, the Benue State Government sealed off the operations of Joy FM 96.5, a radio station owned by former Senate President, Dr. David Mark, on Thursday afternoon. The station, located in Otukpo, was abruptly stormed by armed policemen, causing chaos and confusion among staff.
Around 1:00 PM, two trucks loaded with heavily armed police officers descended upon the station. The armed officers, led by Mr. Sunday Odagba, Chairman of the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), and Mr. Ikwue Ikwue from the State Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Otukpo Zone, quickly took control of the premises, sparking panic.
According to eye-witness accounts, the officers, who appeared unannounced, began manhandling the staff on duty. Notably, Mr. Oloche Adeyi, the station’s news anchor, was forced to halt a live news broadcast at gunpoint, a move that has raised serious concerns over media freedoms and journalistic ethics.
Amb. Christabel Iyanya, the Managing Director of Joy FM, confirmed the shocking incident, describing the raid as a disturbing breach of both the law and the safety of media practitioners. Speaking to a correspondent, she expressed her disbelief, “They came and took siege on the station and caused pandemonium. Nobody was aware of their coming or the reason they decided to invade a running station with two trucks of armed policemen,” she said.
Invasion of the Airwaves
The raid disrupted the day-to-day operations of the radio station, which has been in operation since 2006. Staff members were forcibly removed from their posts, and the station’s physical infrastructure was damaged during the operation. “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,” Iyanya added.
The unfolding events took a particularly alarming turn when the armed policemen entered the studio, interrupting the live news broadcast that was ongoing at the time. “They forced Oloche Adeyi, who was reading the 1 pm news, to stop the bulletin, at gunpoint,” Iyanya revealed. “This is not just an attack on a media house, but on the fundamental rights of citizens to receive news without intimidation.”
The raid has drawn sharp criticism from both media practitioners and the general public, with many questioning the motives behind such an aggressive act.
The Alleged Debt
While the police operation was unfolding, the government representatives claimed that the station had a financial obligation to the state. According to the officials, Joy FM was allegedly in arrears of N150,000 for business premises. However, Iyanya strongly contested this claim, stating that the station was unaware of any such debt. “We have been operating for almost two decades, and we have never defaulted in the payment of any bills or taxes. If we owed anything, the people involved should have come to me directly. I would have paid immediately,” she stated.
Amb. Iyanya further explained that the individuals leading the operation were from her local community. “The person who led this operation, especially Mr. Ikwue Ikwue, is from the same locality as me. He sees me all the time. If my station was owing any bill, he should have told me personally,” Iyanya said, emphasizing the lack of communication and the surprising nature of the raid.
A Breach of Media Rights
This latest incident has raised significant concerns about the growing tension between the Benue State Government and independent media outlets. Experts have pointed out that such heavy-handed tactics represent a worrying trend in press freedom and an alarming disregard for democratic norms.
The Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (SNB) has also condemned the action. Iyanya, who serves as the Deputy National Chairman of the SNB, expressed her disbelief and frustration with the treatment of Joy FM. “This is beyond tax. This is something they will have to explain to us. We definitely intend to contest this,” she said.
The raid comes amid increasing tensions between state authorities and local media outlets. The use of armed force to enforce what has been described as a minor financial dispute has sparked widespread outrage, with critics warning that it sets a dangerous precedent for the treatment of media organizations in Nigeria.
Public Reactions and Backlash
The incident has triggered a wave of reactions from across the country. Social media platforms have been flooded with condemnation of the state’s actions. Many Nigerians expressed outrage at the violation of press freedom, with some even likening the raid to authoritarian tactics seen in undemocratic regimes.
One Twitter user wrote, “This is absolutely unacceptable. The government cannot silence media outlets through force. Joy FM and all media houses must be allowed to function without intimidation.”
Another user commented, “What happened at Joy FM is a dark moment for press freedom in Nigeria. We need to demand accountability from the state government for this abuse of power.”
