The Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) has denied claims that its officials assaulted or harassed workers at Enyimba FM and TV during an operation at the station’s premises in Aba, Abia State.
In a statement on Tuesday, GADA said it only sealed an illegal building located within the station’s compound and did so peacefully on August 12, 2025. The agency claimed no staff of the station was arrested, harassed, or assaulted during the action.
According to Chibuzo Amaechi, Head of Information at GADA, the agency had earlier followed a court order asking both parties to maintain the status quo and stayed away from the disputed site for three months. However, GADA said it returned after discovering that the station had allegedly broken the seal and resumed construction without a new court order.
GADA said it reported the breach to the police and carried out the sealing again in a peaceful manner.
“This operation was carried out peacefully, with no incidents of assault, harassment, or arrest,” the agency said, adding that the action was not targeted at any individual or organisation.
However, the management of Enyimba FM and TV Limited gave a different account. In a statement, the station claimed that around 11 am on Tuesday, several unidentified men stormed the premises in six buses, disrupting activities and creating panic among staff.
The media house accused GADA of ignoring a court order issued by an Abia State High Court on July 29, 2025 (Suit No. A/137/2025), which it said had addressed the ongoing dispute.
The conflict highlights growing tension between government agencies and private media operators in parts of the country, especially regarding land use and regulatory enforcement.
