Where is FirstNews Editor, Olatunji?

By Lekan Otufodunrin

As at the time of writing this column, there was still no confirmation of the whereabouts of the Editor of FirstNews, Segun Olatunji, who was abducted from his home in Lagos on March 15.

Following public outcry, the Federal Police spokesman, Assistant Commissioner of Police Muyiwa Adejobi promised to check with the military authorities if Olatunji is in their custody since 15 armed men, two of whom reportedly wore military-style uniforms in two unmarked vans, took him away forcefully despite pleadings by the family without any explanation.

The deafening silence of the military authorities on Olatunji’s whereabouts has been worrisome as a clarification would have assured his family, employers, and other concerned Nigerians of his safety and health conditions if indeed he is being held by them or not.

Speculations that Olatunji’s arrest might not be unconnected with a report accusing a top official of the Nigeria Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), under Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence, of indiscriminate allocation of contracts makes it necessary for whoever might have directed his detention to own up.

If indeed his arrest has anything to do with the reports his paper published, the military should confirm his arrest and disclose charges they have against him as his employers, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Committee for Protection of Journalists and other organizations have asked for.

What is urgently required in this case is the investigation of the allegations First News reported to trace those who may be responsible for his abduction under official cover. Those mentioned in the reports would not be happy with the accusations against them and they need to clear themselves of the suspicion that they engineered the editor’s arrest.

The longer his whereabouts are unknown, the risk of his safety not being guaranteed is high and it would be sad if anything happens to him. This should not be a case of unknown gunmen since there are issues related to his arrest.

In a democratic dispensation, it’s unfortunate that the safety of journalists cannot be guaranteed due to publications against anyone who is in a position to take the laws into their own hands. What makes it easy for this kind of faceless arrest to happen are past instances where people have been arrested by security men who refuse to present any warrant and are locked up for more than the required period as the law permits.

Those who have refused unlawful arrests in the past in some cases have been accused of resisting arrest and taken away forcefully as in Olatunji’s case.

While any government official or anyone has the right to be aggrieved by what is published against them, the lawful option is to seek legal redress and prove their innocence in the case against them for which the offending media organization and staff can be penalised.

Resorting to illegal arrest is not the appropriate option and whoever is responsible for Olatunji’s arrest should not be allowed to get away with the condemnable action and abuse of power.
The manner of Olatunji’s arrest is a dangerous development and threat to freedom of expression in the country which must not be encouraged in any way by security authorities.

As a government that has promised to respect the rule of law, the federal government should urgently weigh in on the matter and ensure that Olatunji’s whereabouts are ascertained and he is released.

Olatunji’s arrest should remind the federal government of the need to abide by the recent judgement on February 16, 2024, by a Federal High Court in Abuja that it should investigate attacks against journalists, and prosecute and punish perpetrators of such attacks.

The court also directed the government to take measures to prevent further attacks on journalists while ensuring that all journalists who are victims of attacks have access to effective remedies.

Given the special role that journalists play in society, they ought to be protected and not put at risk of avoidable hazards of the profession as Justice Inyang Ekwo stated. Olatunji should be freed immediately by his abductors. Journalism is not a crime.