IPI Nigeria condemns abduction of journalist, calls for immediate release
The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI) has once again expressed concern about the safety of journalists in the country, following the reported abduction of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
According to reports, Ojukwu was allegedly abducted by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police and is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti in Lagos.
IPI NIGERIA strongly condemns this abduction and calls on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately order the release of Mr. Ojukwu.
In a statement jointly signed by President Musikilu Mojeed and Tobi Soniyi, Legal Adviser/Chair, Advocacy Committee, the organization said, “These incidents suggest a disturbing pattern indicating a lack of commitment to press freedom and human rights by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, contradicting promises made during his inaugural speech to uphold fundamental rights.”
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This incident, occurring during a time when the world celebrates press freedom, highlights the challenges journalists face in Nigeria.
Just weeks ago, another journalist, Mr. Segun Olatunji, was reportedly abducted by the Nigerian military in Lagos and transported to Abuja under degrading conditions, seemingly violating his rights to dignity and freedom of expression.
“We have always stated, and it bears repeating that in a democratic setting, the proper step to take is to follow due process in seeking remedies against journalists.
“It amounts to an abuse of his powers and office for the Inspector General of Police to order the abduction of a journalist just because he is the overall head of the Nigeria Police Force.
IPI Nigeria, however, called on President Tinubu to sanction the Inspector General of the Police having failed to lead by example. Nobody is above the law.
“Human rights violations have continued unabated because perpetrators are hardly held to account. It is time to begin holding those suppressing freedom of expression to account.
They ordered that Ojukwu should be released immediately, or else the Inspector General of Police would be included in IPI Nigeria’s book of infamy and branded an enemy of the media and journalists.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
