HEAVY SECURITY AS BENUE GOVT SHUTS DOWN DAVID MARK’S RADIO STATION
The Benue State Government on Thursday shut down Joy FM 96.5 Otukpo, a private radio station owned by former Senate President David Mark.
Established in 2006, Joy FM was the first private radio station in North-Central Nigeria and has a wide reach, covering at least seven states due to its high-frequency modulator.
According to reports, armed policemen stormed the station around 1 p.m., arriving in two trucks. The operation was allegedly led by the Chairman of the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Sunday Odagba, and Ikwue Ikwue from the State Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
During the raid, staff members on duty were reportedly manhandled, while Oloche Adeyi, who was broadcasting the 1 p.m. news, was forced at gunpoint to abruptly terminate the bulletin.
Confirming the incident, the station’s Managing Director, Christabel Iyanya, described the invasion as shocking and unjustified.
“They stormed the station unexpectedly, causing panic. Armed officers manhandled my staff, including the receptionist, Juliana Ameh, and our head of news, Cletus Ogbaje. They even entered the studio and forced our broadcaster, Oloche Adeyi, to stop the news at gunpoint,” Iyanya told DAILY POST.
She further alleged that all office doors were broken down, and employees were forcibly removed from the premises.
Iyanya, who also serves as the National Vice-Chairman of the Broadcasters Organisation of Nigeria (BON), condemned the action, saying it was beyond a tax dispute.
“We were told the closure was due to an unpaid N150,000 business premises levy, which we were not aware of. If there was truly an issue, it should have been communicated to us. We have operated for nearly two decades and have never defaulted on any taxes or payments.”
She vowed to challenge the shutdown, stating, “This is beyond tax; there is more to this, and they will have to explain. We will definitely seek redress.”
The Benue State Government has yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
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