Operatives from the State Security Services have clamped down on a private cable TV and satelite station on Friday morning in Abuja carting away broadcasting and other related equipment.
The Managing director of the Staton Mr Olajide Adediran, the CoreTV , told reporters that the operatives also shut down the station and barricaded the area during the operation around 4:00 a.m. Friday, even though the media house had no history with the secret police.
He said “They have never formally notified us of any wrongdoing,” Mr. Adediran told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone. “This takes us entirely by surprise.”
Mr. Adeniran who arrived the his office located at 34, Sokode Crescent, Zone 5, Wuse, on Friday morning with his staff, but quickly realised that their access into the area had been denied.
“The entire stretch of the street has been barricaded,” Mr. Adediran said.
He said there are signs pasted on the walls of about four buildings in the area that they have been sealed by a court order.
“But even if there’s a court order, why should it be in the middle of the night that they will enforce it and why should they carry our systems and files?” He said.
Equipment that the operatives carted away included office computers, digital cameras, documents amongst other properties of the station.
The SSS were able to confirm if they were responsible for the clamp down and the agency’s refusal to appoint a spokesperson running close to two years did little to help all efforts to get clarification.