The management of Golden 97.5 FM, Yenagoa, has condemned the assault and detention of its reporter, Mr. Bright Okpo, by security personnel in mufti at the Bayelsa State Government House while he was covering a lone protest.
According to the station, the incident occurred when the reporter was taking photographs and videos of the protester, Miss Albert Enibo. Security operatives reportedly confronted him and seized his phone.
The station said that although Okpo identified himself as a journalist with Golden 97.5 FM and presented his official identity card, another security operative arrived at the scene, slapped him and collected the phone from the first officer before deleting the photographs and videos.
Okpo was subsequently taken alongside the protester to a security post in front of the Government House, where they were allegedly forced to sit on the floor.
The station stated that the intervention of a government functionary who came to address the protester led to the reporter’s release from the Government House after Enibo reportedly insisted she would not accompany the official to his office unless the journalist was freed.
According to the station, the reporter was later taken to the A Division Police Station along Hospital Road, where he was compelled to write a statement under duress. In the statement, he was reportedly instructed to indicate that he would not publish the photographs or videos taken at the protest scene on social media or any online platform.
The station added that it was only after writing the statement that Okpo was allowed to use his phone to contact his office and family to inform them of his whereabouts.
However, the Divisional Police Officer who transported him from the Government House to the station reportedly became angry after noticing the call and directed an officer who had earlier handed him the phone to retrieve it, insisting that he should not be allowed to contact anyone.
According to the management, the situation changed after the reporter succeeded in alerting his office. The station said it subsequently contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Musa Mohammed, to report the incident, after which the reporter was released at about 11:42 a.m.
Golden 97.5 FM called on the Bayelsa State Police Command and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council, to investigate the incident and prevent further harassment of the reporter and other media practitioners in the state. The station also expressed concern that its reporter was compelled to write a statement under duress.
