IPC condemns Ijaw Youth Council’s attack on Rhythm FM

Media NGO, the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos- Nigeria has condemned the invasion on Rhythm FM radio station by a faction of the Ijaw Youth Council in Bayelsa on Thursday, June 24, 2016.
The angry youths, who stormed the studio in buses and other vehicles, interrupted an interview with the Mobilisation Officer of Ijaw Youth Council, Mr. Wisdom Ikuli, and Spokesman of the Council, Mike Edounkimor who were guests of a live interview programme of the station and in the process robbed journalists and employees of the studios of their money, mobile handsets and other valuables.
In a statement signed by IPC’s Safety Alert Desk Officer, Melody Akinjiyan, Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, described this act as unacceptable, and condemns the unruly behavior of the Ijaw Youths in harming journalists in the station, who were not in any way connected with the internal crisis of the IYC.

He noted that the attack yet again has further increased the risk faced by journalists in the course of carrying out their functions.

“This kind of attack should be randomly condemned and the youths could have directed their grievances in the appropriate ways rather than invading the radio station to obstruct a live program.
IPC therefore calls on all parties involved to
tender a public apology to the management of Rhythm FM Bayelsa, and refund all valuables taken from
the employees of the station.