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JUST IN: Presidency Behind My Ordeal, Wants To Link Me With  Terrorism – Freed FirstNews Editor Segun Olatunji reveals

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***NGE, NUJ, IPI Nigeria Kicks, threatens to Approach Court

The released Editor of FirstNews Newspaper, Segun Olatunji, has on Thursday linked his abduction and detention by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to his stories published in the course of his journalism job.

Olatunji reveals that one of the stories he published titled, “How Gbajabiamila attempted to corner$30bn, 66 Houses Special Investigator traced to Sabiu”, published on January 29 2024 does not please some persons in the Presidency.

Ohibaba.com read through FirstNews website today and discovered that the story has not been pulled down, despite the controversy it generated.

Olatunji, a former Kaduna Bureau Chief of The PUNCH stated these during an emergency press conference organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria), few hours after his release from underground cell after 14 days.

While in the underground cell, Olatunji said he was stripped and were linking him with alleged terrorism.

Olatunji thanked those who supported him, including the Deputy Editor of The Nation, Yomi Odunuga, who signed the documents which aided his release process and Political Correspondent of Arise News, Friday Olokor, who championed the struggle for his freedom.

“I was at home with my son on Friday, March 15, watching ‘Journalists Hangout,’ when I noticed soldiers outside. My wife and my one year old child were also detained. An officer, who introduced himself as Colonel Lawal, approached me. I inquired about their reason for seeking me. He didn’t provide a clear answer, only stating they were from the military”, Olatunji continued.

He described how his encounter with the military spiraled into a series of events that included being blindfolded, flown to Abuja, and detained without charges.

According to him, after his phones were seized, his abductors took him to the Lagos Airport and waited for Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Aircraft, blindfolded and flown to Abuja.

The journalist said he found himself handcuffed, both hands and feet, and stripped of his belongings in the nation’s capital.

During his detention, Olatunji said he experienced physical discomfort due to excessively tight handcuffs, which led to numbness in his right hands and legs.

He said that while in detention, interrogations focused on specific stories published by FirstNews, especially those criticizing the Chief of Defense Intelligence and the Chief of Staff to the President (Femi Gbajabiamila).

“The first story was an accusation against the Chief of Defense Intelligence. I informed them that it was a general story, and they did not say much about it. They also inquired about a story we published regarding the Chief of Staff to the President. This was the major issue. This is why I had mentioned to some people earlier that those responsible for my arrest were individuals in the corridors of power, suggesting that these stories were the reason for my detention.

“It was evident that certain individuals in positions of power were unhappy with the work being done by FirstNews. And they want to link me with alleged terrorism”, he stated.

Olatunji’s wife, who witnessed the abduction, described the fear and confusion she felt as armed men took her husband from their home.

While the Publisher of FirstNews, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, and Olatunji’s colleagues and family endured days of uncertainty, the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria), Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) diligently worked to locate Olatunji, confronting various government and security agencies.

Their efforts met with denials until a press statement by the IPI Nigeria and subsequent pressure on military officials led to acceptance by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris that he was with government and eventual release.

“According to the management of FirstNews, Mr. Olatunji’s abduction was linked to a recent story published by the media organization,” The President of IPI Nigeria, Musikilu Mojeed, said.

The leadership of the IPI, NGE, and NUJ criticized the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for its actions, which they deemed anti-democratic and a potential threat to press freedom.

They called on President Bola Tinubu to reprimand those responsible.

The Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, emphasized the importance of a free press.

He said, “If the press is not allowed to carry out its social and constitutional responsibilities but is instead subservient to power, it simply serves as an extension of power.”

Uwugiaren added that the media community would remain vigilant and plan to consult on further actions regarding this incident.

He explained that the outcry over  Olatunji’s detention underscored ongoing concerns about press freedom and civil-military relations in Nigeria’s evolving democracy.

Crime

Joint Security Forces Nab 12 Kidnap Suspects, Rescue Victims in Kogi/Kwara Operation (Photos)

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Twelve suspected kidnappers and one informant have been arrested in a coordinated security operation carried out across parts of Kogi and Kwara States.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo through a press statement made available to newsmen.

He said the suspects were apprehended during a series of raids jointly executed by the Hybrid Force from the Office of the National Security Adviser and Officers and Men of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Egbe.

The operations covered Isanlu-Esa and Okoloke in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, and Patigi, Lafiagi and Gbugbu in Kwara State.

The statement identified the suspected kidnappers as Mainasara Abubakar, Sadik Abubakar, Jude Sani, Sanda Abubakar, Lawali Usman, Tukur Shehu, Hassan Abubakar, Kabiru Surajo, Makiri Dodo, Bala Hassan, Umaru Sanda, and Ruwa Abubakar. Also arrested was Rabiu Makeri, who is believed to be an informant for the gang.

According to the statement, the security forces engaged the suspects in a fierce gun battle, during which some of the kidnappers fled, abandoning their motorcycles and kidnap victims. Several kidnapped women were successfully rescued during the confrontation.

“We want to thank the gallant officers from the Office of the National Security Adviser and our men at the FOB, Egbe for their courage and professionalism. We also commend the Kwara State Government for their cooperation, which has yielded this outstanding result,” the statement read.

“Peace has returned to Kogi West as the criminal route from Kwara into our communities has now been disrupted. There will be no hiding place for the criminals. One of the security agents who confronted the kidnappers was shot and he is currently receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Yagba West Local Government Area of the State. The Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo has offered to cover all the costs of treatment”, he said.

The Commissioner further assured the public that the arrested suspects will face full prosecution after investigations, reaffirming the state’s zero-tolerance stance on criminality.

In a separate remark, the Executive Chairman of Yagba West LGA and ALGON Chairman for Kogi State, Hon. Tosin Olokun, expressed gratitude to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for providing the logistics and support that enabled the success of the operation.

“Governor Ododo promised to restore peace to Yagba West and Yagba as a whole. Today, he has backed those words with decisive action. We can now heave a sigh of relief. The people of Yagba are grateful for his leadership and the results it is delivering,” Olokun said.

The Kogi State Government emphasized its ongoing commitment to working with federal and regional partners to ensure the safety and security of all communities within the state.

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Crime

JUST IN: Court Frees 24 IPOB Members After Four Years of Detention

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A high court in Ebonyi State has ordered the release of 24 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) after they were held in detention for four years.

The ruling on Thursday marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings involving the group.

The 24 IPOB members were discharged and acquitted by Justice I. P. Chima of Ebonyi State High Court.

It was gathered that they were among the last batch of the IPOB detainees out of the 36 held since May 4 2020.

Meanwhile, their lawyer and human rights activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, confirmed their freedom in a statement titled, “Justice Delayed, But Never Denied.”

According to him, the ruling followed the preliminary objection which highlighted the brazen violation of their fundamental rights: particularly the constitutionally guaranteed protection against double jeopardy, enshrined under Section 36(9) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Ejiofor said the sacred principle, “autrefois acquit”, stipulates that no person shall be tried again for an offence in respect of which they have previously been acquitted.

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Crime

Ebonyi Police arrests sisters in Crime for brother’s kidnap

The two sisters are security agents. while Juliet Chukwu is an operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ngozi Nancy Chukwu is of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

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Two sisters have been apprehended by the Enugu State Police Command for allegedly masterminding the kidnapping of their brother, Mr. Friday Chukwu.

The two sisters, Juliet Chukwu and Ngozi Nancy Chukwu, are the younger sisters of the victim, who hails from Amaeze village, Ishiagu community, in the Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The two sisters are security agents. while Juliet Chukwu is an operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ngozi Nancy Chukwu is of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

It was gathered that through the duo’s connivance, Chukwu was kidnapped last month on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway near the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, in the Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State.

And through the sisters’ prodding and subtle moves, it was claimed that the sum of N30 million was paid for their brother’s release.

Earlier, the two female security operatives orchestrated the abduction of the General Manager of China Oriental Mining Company, Dennis Igwe, in the same area on Monday.

Luck ran out of them when they were traced to a hidden hotel where they were to share the sum of N10m ransom paid for Igwe’s release, and they were arrested.

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