NUJ Criticises Arrest of Kwara Journalist Rowland Olonishuwa by Police Special Fraud Unit

Date: 2024-09-27

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the manner in which one of its members, Mr. Rowland Olonishuwa, was arrested by detectives from the Police Special Fraud Unit based in Lagos.

Olonishuwa's arrest was allegedly linked to a recent story published by several online news platforms. The NUJ expressed concern over the mode of arrest and called for due process to be followed in addressing any issues related to journalism.

However, the Secretary of Kwara Council of NUJ, Olayinka Alaya, in a statement on Thursday in Ilorin on behalf of the council's Chairman, Abdullatif Ahmed, decried the manner the journalist was arrested.

According to the statement, Olonishuwa, who is a member of the Herald Chapel of the Council, was forcefully taken away from his residence along Asa Dam Road in Ilorin on Wednesday by the detectives.

He said the Kwara State Police Command has confirmed that it is not aware of the arrest.

”Upon receiving report of the incident on Wednesday morning, the leadership of the Kwara NUJ Council immediately swung into action, reaching out to the Police Command in the state to inquire about the arrest.

”In a conversation with the Command's Public Relations Officer (PRO), DSP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, it was confirmed that the Police Command was unaware of the operation and had not been informed of any planned activity involving officers from Lagos.

“The Kwara NUJ Council finds this situation deeply troubling, as the secretive nature of the arrest violates proper legal and procedural norms,” Alaya said.

He added that arresting a journalist without prior notification or collaboration with the Police Command in the state raises concerns about the respect for due process.

”It also lends credence to a disturbing trend of intimidation towards members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm,” the Secretary said.

Alaya said, in response to the development, the Council on Wednesday informed the leadership of NUJ's Lagos State Council, seeking its immediate intervention.

”A call for the swift release of Mr Olonishuwa has been issued, along with a demand for an explanation regarding the involvement of Lagos-based security operatives in an arrest conducted far outside their jurisdiction.

”The Council has also flagged reports of similar arrests in Lagos and Abeokuta involving other publishers, raising concerns about a coordinated crackdown on press freedom.

”As a Union whose responsibility is enshrined in the Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), we will not condone any form of intimidation, harassment, or illegal detention of journalists.

”This is especially when such actions are carried out with utter disregard for the rule of law and fundamental human rights,” he said.

He however disclosed that the Council had reached out to Mr Olonishuwa's home, offering emotional support and assuring them that every legal measure would be pursued to secure his freedom.

“The Council further reiterated its commitment to the protection of press freedom and safety of its members,” Alaya added.

He said the Council expects the Nigeria Police Force to urgently address this violation.

”This should remind all state actors that the press is not an enemy of the state but a vital pillar of democracy,” the Kwara NUJ Council Secretary said.(NAN)

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Umar Adelodun     Abdulmumini Jawondo     Tsado Manman     Sabi     Tafida Of Kaiama     Kwara University Of Education     Hussein Olokooba     JAAC     Ballah     Bursary     Benin Republic     Lawan     Federal Allocation     Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen     Yeketi     AGM Professional Services     LEAH Charity Foundation     Tosho Yaqub     Mohammed Ibrahim     Taofik Abdulkareem     Mamman Saba Jibril     Laduba     Trader Moni     Dumagi     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools     Sam Okaula     Clement Yomi Adeboye     IsDB     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Democracy Day     Orisa Bridge     Pacify Labs     Volunteers Of Ilorin Community And The Emirate     Samuel Adedoyin     Funmilayo Oniwa     Oniwasi Agbaye     Mumeen Lah     Olugbense     Fatai Garuba Labaka     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     Basit Olatunji     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     Oya State     Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman     Abdulkadir Orire     Gwanara     Yemi Osinbajo     Mahmud Ajeigbe     Muslim Cementary     Afonja     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Islamic Development Bank     Ajidagba     Tunde Idiagbon Road     Diagnostic Centre     Ibrahim Akaje     Albert Ogunsola     Umar Ayinla Saro     Kayode Zubair     Senior Special Assistant On Student Affairs     Simeon Sayomi     Vasolar     Kayode Ishola     Sobi     Ahmad Uthman     Ohoro Of Shao     Abdulkarim Adisa     Okedare     Waziri Yakubu Gobir     Afeyin-Olukuta     Kwara North     Musa Yeketi     Share-Tsaragi     Ilota     Dan Iya     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Olukotun Of Ikotun     Kwara Central     Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf     Lawal Arinola Kudirat     Odolaye Aremu     Kpotum Mohammed Baba     Olatunde Michaels     Alanamu     Maigida     Abubakar Ndakene     ARMTI     Abubakar Usman Jos     Ibrahim Sulu Gambari     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Ileloke     A.E. Afolabi     Arandun     Elekoyangan     Segun Abifarin     Hikmah AbdulKareem     Sheriff Olanrewaju     N-Power     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Khairat Gwadabe     Oniwasi Agbaye     IF-K     Kwara NIPR     Alfa Modibo Belgore     Third Estate     KWSUED     Quareeb Islamic Association     Kolade Solagberu     Sheikh Ridhwanullah El-ilory     Alabere     Mohammed Lawal Bagega     Adanla-Irese     Matthew Okedare     Ayinde Oyepitan     Kale Belgore     Lanre Olosunde     Funmilayo Mohammed     Olusegun Adeniyi     Saka Abimbola Isau     SWAN     Binta Abubakar-Mora     Borgu     Razaq Atunwa     Moses Afolayan     IQRA College     Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen     Convocation Ceremonies     Dapo Teni Nig Enterprise     College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies     Yakubu Gobir     AbdulRaheem Ahmad Shayi     NITDA     Toyin Falola     Wahab Olasupo Egbewole     Park     Moshood Mustapha     Kale Ayo     Special Adviser On Digital Innovation     Abubakar Olusola Saraki     Isiaka Abdulrazak     Baba Adini Of Kwara State     Saduki Lafiagi     Abdulrazaq Aiyelabegan     Shero     Zaratu Umar     First Lady     Baaziki Sulaiman     Okasanmi Ajayi     Mohammed Ghali Alaaya     Omar Bolaji Gambari     Hajj