Suspected armed robbers have attacked Radio Nigeria’s Prime 101.5FM located in Jimgbe, Kogi State, stealing broadcasting equipment valued in the millions.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, with the robbers operating for over three hours without any intervention from security forces.
Speaking to journalists, the General Manager of the station, Momoh Jimoh Adeiza, said the staff woke up to find that the station had been raided and key equipment stolen.
“This is a major blow to us. The robbers tied up our security guard and stole crucial broadcasting equipment. We are now off air. I’m appealing to security agencies to take swift action to track down those responsible. I’ve already reported the incident to our zonal director,” Adeiza stated.
He also called on relevant authorities to support the station in recovering and resuming operations.
The security guard on duty, Daniel Haruna, described his ordeal. According to him, over 10 armed men, carrying guns and cutlasses, stormed the station at around 1 a.m.
“They tied me to a tree, blindfolded me, and I couldn’t cry out for help. They stole copper components from the feeder lines, 22 modules, armored cables, generator batteries, and more. They were there for more than three hours,” Haruna recounted.
In response, Kogi State’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, condemned the attack and assured the public that the government would work with security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.
He added that the state is committed to safeguarding all federal institutions and will support Prime FM during this difficult time.
“We’ll assess the extent of the damage and assist however possible. We urge all federal agencies in the state to remain vigilant and reach out to the government whenever security support is needed,” Fanwo said.
