By Media Rights Agenda
At about 6:25pm on March 24, 2018, thugs suspected to be members of Plateau United Supporters Club invaded the premises of Jay 101.9 FM station.
They assaulted, battered and abducted Ferdinand Mbum, a presenter, shortly after he had finished presenting a magazine sports programme called ‘Sports Extra’.
The invaders who arrived the station in a black Honda Accord and a Peugeot 406 Wagon were allegedly led by Mallam Audu, chairman of Plateau United Supporters Club, who reportedly claimed that the General Manager of the club, Pius Henwan, sent them to assault and abduct the presenter.
The abductors took the presenter to the A Division of the Nigeria Police Force in Jos, where the radio station lawyers were later able to locate him.
Those who abducted Ferdinand reportedly waited at the Police station for the arrival of Pius Henwan before handing him over to the Police who thereafter detained him, turning a blind eye to the fact that the presenter was assaulted and abducted from his office.
Henwan lodged a complaint of defamation of character and other allegations against Ferdinand and left the police station.
Ferdinand was detained by the police until his lawyers secured his bail before midnight, on condition that the station would produce him in the morning of March 26, 2018.
The station, in a press statement announcing the raid, demanded an unreserved apology from the General Manager of Plateau United Football Club in writing, published in three national dailies of repute, and broadcast on three Radio Stations in Jos Plateau State. The station threatened to sue Henwan for abuse of fundamental human rights and file other charges against the Football Club.