The Benue State Government on Thursday, sealed off Joy FM 96.5, a radio station owned by former Senate President Dr. David Mark, in Otukpo, Benue State.

Established in 2006, Joy FM was abruptly shut down around 1 p.m. when two trucks filled with armed policemen stormed the premises.

The operation was led by the Chairman of the Benue Internal Revenue Service , BIRS, Mr. Sunday Odagba, and Mr. Ikwue Ikwue of the State Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Otukpo Zone.

During the invasion, Oloche Adeyi, who was live on air delivering the 1 p.m. network news, was forced at gunpoint to halt the broadcast an action that violates media and broadcast ethics.

Confirming the incident to newsmen, the Managing Director of Joy FM, Amb. Christabel Iyanya, expressed shock and outrage.

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“They stormed the station without prior notice, creating chaos. My staff were manhandled, including our receptionist, Juliana Ameh; one of our old staff members, Mallam Jibrin; and my head of news, Cletus Ogbaje. They entered the studio with heavily armed officers and forced our presenter, Oloche Adeyi, to stop the news broadcast at gunpoint.

“They broke into our offices, destroyed entrance doors, and threw everyone out. I was away in Igumale, Ado Local Government Headquarters, to attend yo a business .

They claimed the station owed N150,000 for business premises something we were never informed about.

“One of the officials, Ikwue Ikwue, is from my locality. He sees me all the time. If we had any outstanding bills, he could have told me, and I would have paid immediately. We have been operating for nearly two decades and have never defaulted on any payments whether bills or taxes,” Iyanya stated.

She further condemned the invasion, saying, “This goes beyond tax. They need to explain this action. We will not let it go unchallenged.”

Iyanya, who also serves as the National Vice Chairman of the Broadcasters Organization of Nigeria , vowed to contest the closure.

Crediblenewsng.com