March 28, (THEWILL) – The Editor of FirstNews, Segun Olatunji, has regained freedom after two weeks in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
The former Kaduna State correspondent of Punch and current editor of FirstNews, was picked up in his Lagos home in Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos, on Friday, March 15, 2024.
THEWILL reports that Mr Olatunji was released 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 on Thursday.
His arrest, reports say, might not be unconnected to a news story in his publication accusing an official of the DIA of not fairly allocating public contracts.
Since his arrest, families, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ and Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute IPI Nigeria), have called on President Bola 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.
The Committee to Protect Journalists CPJ had particularly called on the military to account for the whereabouts of the journalist.
The NUJ, while condemning Olatunji’s arrest in a statement signed by the Assistant National Secretary, Akorede Opeyemi, said it was a threat to freedom of the press.
About the Author
