By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Press freedom in Nigeria has once again came under attack following the brute abduction of a journalist and Editor of FirstNews, Segun Olatunji, who was also the former Punch Newspapers correspondent in Kaduna state.
FirstNews, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, led management of the Lagos based online media reported that the victim Mr. Olatunji was abducted by gunmen suspected to be soldiers from his residents in Lagos.
“He was picked at his home in the Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos State”, it stated.
The management of the online Newspaper linked the action to a recent story published by FirstNews titled,”Revealed:”Defence Chief running office like family business – Public Interest Lawyers”.
The said story was reportedly published by many other online platforms.
Management also linked his abduction to another report titled,”Exclusive: How contractor, company stole N100bn, laundered funds for top govt officials – Investigation”,which was later pulled down.
The arrest has caused panic amongst ranks and files staff of the Newspaper organization, according to the management reports.
The report added that “His wife, Abiodun Olatunji, reported that the armed men numbering ten arrived at their residence, a few minutes after 6pm and whisked her husband away without leaving any information behind as to where they were taking him to.
She said her husband’s abductors reached for his phone and seized it immediately they arrived before bundling him into a waiting van like a common criminal and zoomed off.
While further narrating the incident, she said efforts to know his offence or where they were taking him to were rebuffed by the stern-looking men.
“Some armed men dressed in military uniform totaling ten in number (Two in uniform and the remaining 8 in mufti and that they were all armed) arrived at our residence at Dauda Oriyomi street,Iyana Odo along Joke Ayo in Abule Egba area of Lagos State and took away my husband.
“They refused to state his offence and where they were taken him to despite all the efforts to make them do so”,she said.
The Publisher of FirstNews,Daniel Iworiso-Markson, who also confirmed the incident, said there has been no trace of Olatunji,as his phone line has been switched,neither has anyone reached the family or the management of FirstNews to disclose the real reason behind his abduction.
While condemning the way and manner Olatunji was whisked away,Iworiso-Markson stated that he was never invited formally to answer any issue that bothered on national security.
“The management of FirstNews is using this opportunity to call on the military high command and the security agencies to let us know his whereabout and the reason why he was arrested.
“FirstNews (online & print) is a reputable independent digital news network that prides itself on being a frontline media outfit committed to engaging her world-class audience with factual,authentic and credible information.
“We conduct our journalism activities with strict observance of the high standards of ethics, accountability,professionalism and legality,while exercising our rights to freedom of expression and information,all in a bid to ensure credible reporting of the news behind the news in Politics,Business,Education,Sport,Health,Entertainment and many more.
“If there was any infraction that bothers on national security,Olatunji should have first been formally invited rather that this gestapo style of arrest that reminds of the dark days of the military era,where press freedom was stifled”, it stated.
