The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned the forceful shutdown of Joy FM 96.5, Otukpo, by the Benue State Government, calling it an outrageous attack on press freedom.
The National Coordinator, HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko in a statement issued on Friday described the armed invasion by security operatives as state-sponsored intimidation and warned that such actions could undermine democracy and silence independent journalism.
According to reports, heavily armed policemen stormed the radio station on Thursday in two trucks, allegedly led by Sunday Odagba, Chairman of the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), and Ikwue Ikwue of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Otukpo Zone. Staff members were assaulted, and a journalist reading the 1 pm news was forced at gunpoint to halt the broadcast.
HURIWA expressed outrage that such an act could happen in a democracy, stating that enforcing tax collection through the use of live ammunition and armed operatives was excessive, illegal, and oppressive.
Condemning the shutdown, HURIWA called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to immediately reopen the station and hold those responsible accountable.
“This is an appalling act of intimidation. Using armed policemen to forcibly shut down a media house is a calculated attack on press freedom. The Benue government must explain why a simple tax dispute led to a full-blown armed raid on a radio station. Nigeria is not a dictatorship, and we will not tolerate this,” the group stated.
HURIWA also emphasized that no government has the right to arbitrarily close a media house without due process.
If Joy FM owed any levies, legal procedures should have been followed, not a show of force.
“Reports suggest the station was not even aware of any outstanding payments before this attack.
Shutting down a radio station over an alleged N150,000 business premises levy is beyond ridiculous and suggests political motives behind this unlawful act,” HURIWA added.
HURIWA demanded that the Nigeria Police Force explain why its personnel were used in what appears to be a politically motivated crackdown on the media.
It also urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to intervene and ensure Joy FM resumes operations immediately.
“If this is allowed to stand, other state governments will follow suit, using security forces to silence media houses that expose their failures. This is a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.”
HURIWA vowed to take legal action if Joy FM is not reopened, mobilizing civil society groups and petitioning international press freedom organizations to expose this growing assault on the media in Nigeria.
“A free press is the backbone of democracy. The Benue State Government must immediately reverse this unconstitutional act or face resistance from civil society and legal experts. The time to act is now,” the statement concluded.
