>
Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of a journalist and editor of First News, Segun Olatunji, who was said to have been abducted by armed men from his Lagos home last Friday.
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the union’s Assistant National Secretary, Akorede Opeyemi.
Olatunji, a former Kaduna State correspondent of The PUNCH, was on Friday whisked away by 10 armed men from his home in Iyana Odo, in Abule Egba area of Lagos State, and nothing has been heard of his whereabouts till date.
NUJ described Olatunji’s abduction as another threat to press freedom.
“The disappearance of Segun Olatunji, the editor of First News newspapers, is another sad reminder of the danger being faced daily by journalists in the line of duty.
“Eyewitness reports had it that Olatunji was taken away last Friday from his Lagos home in the presence of his family by 10 fully armed men, two of whom were dressed in military uniform.
“Although it is not clear which agency of government was responsible for the arrest of the journalist, we believe that freedom of the press and opinion remain defining elements of the rule of law and democracy.
“For this reason, the Nigerian government needs to work to protect freedom of the press and freedom of movement for media professionals. Safety and security of journalists are very important.
“Actions like this are unacceptable and are attempts to intimidate journalists and force them into self-censorship. The professional work of journalists is clearly in the public interest, and acts of impunity against them should not be condoned,” Akorede said.
The union called for the immediate and unconditional release of Olatunji, stressing that the demand for his release was in the interest of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law.
The family of the abducted journalist had in a Save Our Soul letter sent to President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, also pleaded for his immediate and unconditional release.