By Kola Adeyemi
The International Press Centre has expressed concern over the closure of Africa Independent Television ( AIT) and Raypower FM operations in Port Harcourt by the Rivers State Government.
IPC’s Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ) expressed the concern in a statement on Monday.
It said the action was unacceptable and a violation of the rule of law.
Melody Akinjiyan, Press Freedom Officer, IPC, signed the statement.
Africa Independent Television ( AIT) and Raypower FM had on their official page on Sunday, 3rd September, 2023, announced that the state government shut down its operations through contracted telecommunications engineers accompanied by armed security operatives.
“The contractors disconnected the wave guard from the antenna on the mast while riggers were seen dismantling the mast.
“Also, bulldozers were deployed to demolish the Transmitter Complex at DAAR Communications PLC Broadcast Centre,” the media outfit claimed.
However, the Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade described the closure of the media outlets as “another attempt to stifle press freedom in the country.”
He warned that the state government should immediately stop actions towards that course.
“The Rivers State Government should come open with any grievance it may have against AIT/Raypower in the State and refrain from further arbitrary self-help like the demolition”, he said.
Arogundade advised the Rivers State Government to allow AIT and Raypower FM to continue its operations and seek legal redress if it believes the media outfits have committed any offence.
In another development, the IPC has called on the police to stop threatening the life of a veteran journalist, Ikem Okuhu.
The IPC Executive Director decried the reported threat on the life of Okuhu, who was on Friday, August 25, 2023 accosted by two men who introduced themselves as officers of the Nigerian Police, Enugu State Command.
Okuhu was accosted by the policemen at the burial of the father-in-law of his younger brother at Umabor, Eha Alumona Nsukka.
Giving details of what happened during a press briefing in Lagos, Okuhu said: “I was at Umabor for the burial of the father-in-law of my younger brother and I had gone out to make a phone call when one of these people walked up to me and started a casual conversation, but soon said he had an order to bring me to Enugu.
“He said he was a police officer and that somebody had written a petition against me.
“My inquiry as regards who wrote the petition and what the issue was about did not yield anything, as he was soon joined by another man who also claimed he was a policeman.
“When I asked them for identification, they refused and instead, tried to herd me to their vehicle.”
According to Arogundade,
I-CSPJ is deeply worried about the situation of veteran journalist Ikem Okuhu and hereby calls on the Nigerian government and the security agencies to ensure that he is not harmed in any way.
“I-CSPJ enjoins anyone who may be aggrieved over the reports by the journalist to seek redress through legal channels instead of attempting to resort to extra-judicial self-help. (vitalnewsngr.com)
