NUJ condemns alleged invasion of Enugu radio station by EFCC officials

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the Monday night invasion of Urban Radio 94.5 FM in Enugu by armed officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The incident, which occurred during a live broadcast, saw the EFCC disrupt the programme and allegedly abduct presenters, taking away communication equipment without providing any explanation.

Efforts to obtain a response from the EFCC on the matter were unsuccessful. According to a statement from the management of Urban Radio, the EFCC officers barged into the studio around 6:35 p.m., interrupting the live programme “Prime-Time.”

The station reported that despite repeated requests, the officials refused to disclose the reasons for their actions. The station has since vowed to follow up on the matter.

In response, the Enugu State Council of the NUJ issued a statement condemning the actions of the EFCC, labelling the incident as a willful harassment of journalists and an attack on their constitutional duties.

The statement, signed by the NUJ Chairperson, Dame Ifeoma Amuta, demanded the immediate release of all those arrested and insisted that the matter would not be swept under the carpet.

“The NUJ condemns this embarrassing action by EFCC officials at the media house and the subsequent arrest of the presenter on a live programme, which disrupted transmission,” the statement read.

Quoting the NUJ Chairman, Sam Udekwe, Amuta described the EFCC’s actions as “unprofessional,” noting that such forceful disruptions are reminiscent of military-era tactics.

“No matter the seriousness of the investigation, the EFCC should have waited until the programme was over. Extending this action to public facilities like a radio station while on air is unacceptable,” Udekwe said.

The NUJ further called for a thorough investigation into the incident and demanded a public apology from the EFCC for the embarrassment caused. The union also expressed concern over the increasing trend of media intimidation by security forces, calling for an end to such actions.