Media organisations, associations, professional bodies and civil society organisations (CSOs) have urged the Federal Government to prosecute those culpable in the unlawful detention and torture of the Editor of FirstNews newspapers, Segun Olatunji.
The Daily Crucible reports that the Editor of First News Online Newspaper, Mr. Segun Olatunji was brutally abducted by armed men in military uniform and taken to an unknown location blindfolded and the strange location later turned out to be a dungeon in a military facility Abuja.
And after marking nearly 14 torturous days in custody, including being agonizingly chained, he was released on Thursday morning, March 28, by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), in what appeared to be a succumbing to national and international pressures.
The hooded security agents released Mr. Olatunji to the General Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren and the Deputy Editor (Nation’s Capital) of THE NATION Newspapers, Mr. Yomi Odunuga under a bridge in Asokoro.
It was learnt the fierce – looking strangers also covered up the number plates of their vehicles before handing the journalist to his colleagues after all the documents for his release were signed inside a security vehicle with heavily armed operatives.
Shortly after his release, the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI) condemned the abduction of Mr. Olatunji by the Defence Intelligence Agency(DIA), describing it as an attack on press freedom, threatening that the FirstNews Editor’s release was not the end of the matter, assuring that the Nigerian media community would deliberate on it to know what actions to take against the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Defence Intelligence and the military.
Narrating the challenges they encountered trying to trace the whereabouts of Olatunji, the Secretary of the Guild of Editor Iyobosa, Uwugiaren speaking alongside the President of IPI Nigeria; Musikilu Mojeed and President of NUJ, Chris Isiguzo, revealed efforts made by NGE, NUJ, and IPI said their sources repeatedly urged them to act fast to prevent the death of their colleague.
He said: “We interacted with the presidency, the Nigeria Police Force (Lagos and Abuja), the Nigerian Army, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Ministry of Interior, the Defence Headquarters, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and the State Security Services. Other security agencies were also contacted.
“But all the efforts failed until last night. The military claimed the journalist was not in their custody. They lied to us and top government officials whose interventions we sought. The DIA’s action makes us wonder about its real intention. Our suspicion is that they planned to secretly eliminate Mr Olatunji so that members of the public could attribute his disappearance to unknown gunmen. But we are glad they failed.
“However, IPI Nigeria was able to determine (without doubt) that the journalist was being detained and tortured by the Defence Intelligence Agency in Abuja. The IPI then informed the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, of its finding and asked them to release our colleague immediately.
“We also provided that information to top government officials who also reached out to Generals Musa and Undiandeye. Again, they lied that the journalist was not in their custody. Yet our sources were telling us we needed to act fast to save our colleague from being killed.
“More so, the DIA’s action is a direct attack on press freedom. One of the core missions of the free press is to serve as a watchdog on power. The press, as we all know, is the connection between the people and the government. If the press is not allowed to carry out its social and constitutional responsibilities but instead obligated to power, it simply serves as an extension of power.
“Without freedom of the press, our democracy is endangered. In the case of corruption, a free press is critical to exposing abuses of power. For sure, the media is not above the law, but in a democracy, the only way to determine wrong or right is through the legal process.
“This is not the end of this matter. The Nigerian media community shall consult further in the next few days on the actions to take against the CDS, the CDI, and the military regarding this matter.”
However, on Sunday, April 7, the media organisations inline with their earlier resolve, jointly issued a statement where they strongly decried the “unlawful and unconstitutional treatment” of the journalist in a constitutional democracy for doing his job, even as they called for the prosecution of the culprits.
The organisations pushing for prosecution and other sanctions against the Olatunji’s abductors are: Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN)/Nigerian Press Organisations (NPO), Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), International Press Institute, Nigeria Chapter (IPI Nigeria), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), International Press Centre (IPC), among others.
They called for a speedy, transparent and thorough investigation into what they called an “act of barbarism displayed by military personnel as well as the brazen disregard for the constitution and the government’s obligations under relevant domestic laws and international instruments.”
The organisations urged government to pay Olatunji substantial compensation in accordance with Section 35(6) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and issue a public apology to him.
They added that government should make a public commitment to respect and defend the rights and freedoms of journalists and other media practitioners to carry out their professional duties in a safe and conducive environment in accordance with Sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and advise all law enforcement, security, intelligence, military and other agencies accordingly.
The organisations noted that if the Federal Government failed to respond positively to all the demands within 14 days from today, the media associations and professional bodies as well as CSOs would deploy available mechanisms at the national, regional, and international levels to ensure compliance.
They advised any member of the public who feels dissatisfied with the content of a news medium or is directly affected unfairly by any news to approach the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) – the National Media Ombudsman – for redress, rather than engage in self-help.
