What looked like a child play over the abduction of Veteran Journalist Segun Olatunji is now turning into a nightmare for his wife, Children, and colleagues.
Up to the time of filing this report no one is sure of the first news editor’s whereabouts , since he was taken away on 15 March by unknown persons said to be in Army uniforms.
The newspot checks on one of the family members that witnessed the abduction said on that day which was in the evening a group of men in army uniforms broke into the house without knocking and forcibly pulled Mr Olatunji from his seat and in a jiffy pushed him into a waiting truck and drove him away.
The source said none of them could identify the abductors but said a female witness saw Yusuf on one of the abductors arny uniform.
While one of the neighbors who wished to remain anonymous told our reporters that prior to the day if abduction some strange faces had been patrolling the area with one of them having Segun’s picture.
Up to the time of this report non of the security agencies has being forthcoming on the whereabouts of Mr Olatunji. but it is seriously believed he was abducted by the Military.
The newspot father gathered that a CCTV camera captured the movements of the abductors who came with military motor bike escort rider.
The silence of these agencies has cast doubt on the safety of Olatunji who is a diabetic patient.
The International Press Institute ( Nigeria Chapter) has issued a strong press statement calling on President Bola Tinubu to order the Nigerian Army to immediately release Mr Olatunji.
The statement read:
IPI NIGERIA
PRESS RELEASE
Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria: President Tinubu should direct Nigerian military authorities to produce abducted FirstNews editor Segun Olatunji
The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) is hereby calling on 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 (CDS), General Christopher Musa, to produce Segun Olatunji, the Editor of FirstNews, who was abducted from his home in Lagos twelve days ago.
Multiple checks by IPI Nigeria reveal that Mr Olatunji is in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), an agency under the command of Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, who, in turn, reports to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa.
For the past eleven days, the abducted journalist has been kept incommunicado, with his family, employers, and colleagues unaware of his whereabouts.
IPI Nigeria has received inquiries about this matter from all over the world. The Institute has also contacted the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Army, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Defence Headquarters, and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation seeking information on Mr Olatunji and demanding his release. All efforts in this direction have so far failed.
That has triggered speculations among journalists and human rights activists around the world that the Nigerian military may be keeping some vital information away from the public concerning the journalist’s safety.
IPI Nigeria is therefore calling on President Tinubu to direct the Nigerian military authorities to immediately release Mr Olatunji or charge him to court if he has committed any offence.
The international community should also pay attention to the unjust detention of Mr. Olatunji by the Nigerian military.
The rule of law demands that an accused person is allowed to defend himself in a court of law within a reasonable time. This also conforms with the provisions of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which forbids the detention of any citizen or resident beyond 48 hours, except with a valid court order.
According to reports, armed men in two unmarked vans arrived at Mr Olatunji’s home in Lagos on March 15. The men, two of whom wore military-style uniforms, introduced themselves as officers of the Nigerian Army and forced Mr. Olatunji to go with them. They declined to tell his wife, who witnessed the abduction, where he was being taken.
As a matter of urgency, the military should tell the world why Mr. Olatunji was arrested, where he is being kept, and why he has not been charged in court.
IPI Nigeria is reminding the Nigerian authorities that when it comes to upholding human rights, Nigeria continues to rank low in the comity of nations. Keeping a citizen beyond the period allowed by the Constitution will only worsen Nigeria’s standing in the international community.
The time to act is now.
27 March 2024
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