Irked by the mysterious disappearance of one of its members, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council on Monday staged a protest to the Police Force Headquarters (FHQ) in Abuja to mount pressure on security agencies to expedite action in the search and rescue of the missing Journalist, Tordue Henry Salem.
Tordue as he is popularly known, who works with the Vanguard Newspaper as its Correspondent attached to the House of Representatives has been missing since October 13, 2021.
Chairman of the FCT Council of the NUJ, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche, who led Journalists on the protest to the Force Headquarters, urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali Baba to deploy all available means in the search and safe return of Tordue.
Members of the FCT NUJ that adorned black attires, marched from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs situated at the Federal Secretariat in the Central Business District to the Force Headquarters in Asokoro District of Abuja and carried placards with different inscriptions that read; “Free Tordue Now,” “What Is Tordue’s Offence,” “Journalism is Not A Crime,” Stop Attacking Journalists,” “Free The Press,” “Enough Is Enough,” among others.
Comrade Ogbeche after submitting the NUJ’s petition to the IGP over the disappearance of Tordue, urged the Police top hierarchy to step up the intelligence and investigation team to unravel the mysterious disappearance of the journalist.
Ogbeche specifically expressed displeasure at the way and manner the police have so far handled the matter and therefore stressed the need for adequate information on the whereabouts of the missing Tordue since it was formally reported to the National Assembly police station immediately the unfortunate incident happened.
The NUJ Chairman lamented the harsh environment where the safety of journalists could no longer be guaranteed in spite their constitutionally defined role and responsibility of upholding the fundamental objectives of the constitution.
Responding shortly after receiving the protesting Journalists, IGP Baba assured that the Police High Command was determined to unravel the mystery behind Tordue’s sudden disappearance.
IGP Baba, who was represented by the Forece Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, said that a thorough investigation was in progress.
He therefore appealed for caution on the matter in order not to jeopardise ongoing investigation even as he promised to brief the leadership of the union on the steps so far taken since the matter was reported at the Police Post at the National Assembly.
IGP Baba further said; “We are as concerned as journalists and members of the family. We have commenced an investigation and we have done everything humanly and technologically possible to ensure he is found.
“We have interrogated at least six persons and we have traced the places he visited after he left the National Assembly. We have spoken with the last person he had an encounter with.
“We are imploring members of the family, public and journalists that this is an active investigation. We have a choice not to speak so as not to jeopardise our investigation. This has explained our silence over time,” h said.
