•CP apologises for officers’ unprofessional conduct
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Commissioner of Police, Abia State, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, has apologised for his officers’ unprofessional conduct at the online Abia Breaking News (ABN) television and radio studio in Umuahia.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Maureen Chinaka, in a statement to newsmen, said the CP offered the apology when he visited the studio, yesterday.
Four cops, at about 2:40pm, on January 16, reportedly invaded the station during a live programme to arrest a guest, one Mr. Udensi Donald, during a programme, claiming his senior brother, one Mr Uche Onwuka Udensi, had written a petition against him over a family matter.
It was gathered that despite repeated pleas by the staff of the station to the officers to allow the programme to come to an end before the guest could be arrested, it was insisted as the policemen whisked him away while the live programme was on.
The Director of the outfit, Mr Ifeanyi Okali, had alleged that many of its broadcast equipment, including laptop, camera and microphones, were damaged by the police personnel during the incident.
However, the PPRO stated that the CP, during the visit, conducted an on-the-spot assessment and had discussions with the director. Chinaka said the CP apologised for the conduct of the officers and the matter was resolved amicably.
The Abia State police command said it will conduct an orderly room trial for four of its personnel involved in an arrest of a guest during an ABN Radio/TV station online live programme in Umuahia. The command’s PPRO, Chinaka, said preliminary investigations into the incident indicated that the police officers who made the arrest, conducted themselves unprofessionally.
“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. The Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, visited ABN TV/Radio on 17/1/24, where he conducted an on-the-spot assessment. He had discussions with the Director of ABN TV/Radio, and apologised for the conduct of the officers. The matter was resolved amicably.
“However, the officers have been defaulted and their orderly room trial commences today (January 18). If found guilty, they will be disciplined accordingly. The Abia State Police Command is committed to maintaining a professionally competent, service-driven, rule-of-law compliant, and people-friendly Police Force, in line with the vision of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Ebetokun.”
The Director of the station, Ifeanyi Okali, had, after the invasion, condemned the action of the policemen.
“We find this very provocative and, indeed, an act of overzealousness by the officers who obviously acted in clear contravention of the rule of engagement. It clearly also negates the enhanced police-civil relations which the Commissioner of Police, Kene Onwuemeile, has consistently campaigned for. We also want to put on record that during the gestapo-type arrest, many of our broadcast equipment were fatally damaged, including a laptop, camera and microphones.”
Investigations revealed that the command has promised to replace the equipment destroyed by her men during the arrest.