Suspected armed robbers have attacked Radio Nigeria, Prime 101.5FM, located in Jimgbe, Kogi State, carting away transmission equipment valued at millions of naira.
The daring operation occurred in the early hours of Saturday and lasted for over three hours without any response or interception from security operatives in the area.
Confirming the incident to journalists on Sunday, the General Manager of the station, Mr. Momoh-Jimoh Adeiza, expressed deep concern over the attack, which has forced the station off-air.
“This is a major blow to our operations. We are currently off air because our vital broadcast equipment has been stolen. The criminals tied up our security guard before proceeding with their operations. Where do we go from here?” he lamented.
Adeiza urged security agencies to intensify efforts to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice. He also confirmed that the Zonal Director of the station had been informed of the incident.
“I’m appealing to the relevant authorities and stakeholders to come to our aid so that we can resume operations and continue serving the public,” he added.
Narrating his ordeal, the security guard on duty, Mr. Daniel Haruna, revealed that the robbers were heavily armed and operated with dangerous weapons, including guns and cutlasses.
They were more than ten of them. They came around 1:00 a.m., and when they spotted me with a flashlight, they immediately tied me to a tree and blindfolded me.
“I couldn’t cry out for help because I was completely helpless. They ransacked the premises for over three hours. It was a terrifying experience I never imagined I would go through”, he recounted.
Items reportedly stolen include copper components of the feeder lines, 22 pieces of transmission modules, armoured cables, generator batteries, and other essential broadcast infrastructure.
Beyond the theft, the extensive destruction inflicted on the station’s facilities has raised serious concerns among staff and stakeholders.
The incident is the latest in a series of security challenges facing media institutions and critical infrastructure across the country.
