After 11days In The Dungeon, Abducted Editor, Segun Olatunji, Regains Freedom
Segun Olatunji, the Editor of FirstNews, who was abducted by 10 fully armed military men, has regained his freedom.
Olatunji, who was reportedly whisked away from his home situated at Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos State, was believed to have been taken into custody by the Defence Intelligence Agency.
Several appeals were made by the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria), Nigeria Guild of Editors, Nigeria Union of Journalists and other organisations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to activate the powers of his office as Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to direct the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, to produce Segun Olatunji.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and other stakeholders have strongly condemned the abduction of Olatunji, stressing that it was a clear case of threat to press freedom.
The NUJ in a statement by its Assistant National Secretary, Akorede Opeyemi, specifically noted that the disappearance of Segun Olatunji, the editor of First News newspapers, is another sad reminder of the danger being faced daily by journalists in the line of duty.
In the words of the NUJ; “Although it is not clear which agency of government was responsible for the arrest of the journalist, we believe that freedom of the press and opinion remain defining elements of the rule of law and democracy”.
The NUJ stressed that for this reason, the Nigerian government urgently needs more than ever before, work to protect freedom of the press and freedom of movement for media professionals. Safety and security of journalists are very important.
