Segun Olatunji, Editor of FirstNews Online Newspaper, has been released after 12 days in detention.
On March 15, gunmen dressed in military uniforms raided Olatunji’s home in Iyana Odo, Abule Egba, Lagos state, and grabbed him.
While the journalist’s family received no word from his abductors, the media platform’s management related the occurrence to a FirstNews piece.
Concerns about his whereabouts persisted until the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) confirmed that the editor was in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), which is led by Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye and reports to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Chris Musa.
Hours after the IPI made this announcement, Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information, informed certain editors that the military had confirmed that the editor was in their possession.
Meanwhile, in a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, IPI urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to use his authority as Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces to direct the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to produce Olatunji.
“IPI Nigeria has received inquiries concerning this topic from around the world. The Institute has also contacted the Nigerian Police, the Nigerian Army, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Defence Headquarters, and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to obtain information about Mr Olatunji and demand his release. All efforts in this approach have thus far failed.”
“That has triggered speculations among journalists and human rights activists around the world that the Nigerian military may be keeping some vital information away from the public concerning the journalist’s safety.
“IPI is therefore calling on President Tinubu to direct the Nigerian military authorities to immediately release Mr Olatunji or charge him to court if he has committed any offence. The international community should also pay attention to the unjust detention of Mr. Olatunji by the Nigerian military,” read the statement signed by IPI President, Musikilu Mojeed, and Tobi Soniyi, its secretary.
Olatunji was released to the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) on Thursday morning, according to a statement from Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the Guild’s Secretary.