The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has demanded the immediate release of Mr Theodore Chinonso Uba, a journalist working with Osisa FM in Owerri, Imo State.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police had reportedly whisked Uba to Abuja for performing his constitutional duties as a journalist.
The group in a statement jointly signed by Comrade Goodluck Ibem, President General and Comrade Okey Nwaoru, Publicity Secretary and made available to Newspot on Friday, said the intimidation, harassment and unlawful arrest of Uba is a plot to gag the press so that they will not perform their constitutional duties.
Recall that Imo Police Spokesman, Henry Okoye, while reacting to the arrest of Uba popularly known as Nonsonkwa, said he was reportedly arrested by operatives of the Force CID Abuja.
The police spokesman said, “This is to clear the air against insinuations that have gone viral alleging that he was arrested by operatives of Imo Command Operatives.”
While condemning development, the group said journalists are the watchdog of our society and any attack on them is an attack on all Nigerians and we do not allow it to happen.
“We call on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun to immediately and unconditionally release the detained journalist who from all indications is a victim of persecution and intimidation for performing his constitutional duties.
“We demand that compensation be paid to him for denying him the freedom to life and human dignity as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.
“We call on journalists all over the world, the international community, the United Nations, all lovers of democracy and all Nigerians to stand up in defense of democracy that is on the verge of collapse in Nigeria.
“The press is the cornerstone of any democracy and an attack on them is an attack on our democracy.
“We warn that an attack on journalists should not be heard again. Enough said!”
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