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.

Muftau Akanbi Oke     Hamza Usman     Egbejila     Halimah Perogi     ASMAU PLAZA     Salihu Alhaji Musa     Yekini Adio     Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola     Muritala Awodun     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Basic Education Certificate Examination     Folorunsho Erubu     Share-Tsaragi     Share/Tsaragi     Durbar Festival     Saliu Ajibola Ajia     Temi Kolawole     Inside Kwara     Rafiu Ajakaye     Share     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Adebara     Moses Adekanye     Sidikat Akaje     Tunji Moronfoye     Sulyman Buhari     Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye     Babatunde Ajeigbe     All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools     Aishat Sulu-Gambari     Islamic Development Bank     Kale Kawu     Oba Abdulkadir La\'aro     Doyin Awoyale     Rafiu Olasile     Amada Jidda     Tsaragi/Share     Saidu Isa     Offa Metropolitan Club     Olaosebikan     Idris Garba     Yashikira     Raliat Elelu-Habeeb     Olaiya Zuberu     Akeem Olatunji     Yomi Adeboye     Gobirawa     Cornelius Adebayo     Gabriel Fashanu     Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode     CCB     Ibrahim Labaika     Fatimah Abdulkadir     REO CAKES     Olatunji Ibrahim     Kamoru Kadiri     Dorcas Afeniforo     Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa     Senate President     Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies     Amosa     Danhawa     Ibrahim Issa Jetti     Ayodele Olaosebikan     Shehu Raheem Adaramaja     Yusuf Amuda Abubakar     Split Diamond Interchange     CKNG     Saliu Mustapha     Abubakar Suleiman     Okanlawon Taiwo     Lanre Issa Onilu     Sanitation Exercise     Kwara Apc     Sabi     Matthew Babaoye     Ayotunde Emmanuel Alao    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Shururat Olatinwo     Haliru Dantoro     Isau     Razaq Ayobami Akanbi     ER-KANG Mining     Babs Iwarere     Lanre Issa Onilu     Mamatu Abdullahi     Al-Adaby     Bello Oyebanji     Centre For Digital Economy     Twitter     Sa\'adatu Modibbo-Kawu     Sun Qing Rong     Magaji Nda     Yusuf AbdulRasheed     Yusuf Amuda Abubakar     NURTW     Oyun     Ilorin Curfew     Quranic Recitation Competition     Ijagbo     Rapheal Ashaolu     Towoju     Abdullahi AbdulMajeed     Abdulrazak Shehu Akorede     Oke-Kura     Iliasu     Jumoke F. Ajao     Aliyu Adebayo     Kulende     Ganmo     Lola Ashiru     Ilota     Tunji Moronfoye     Quran     Fareedah Dankaka     Sa\'adu Salau     Aliyu Olatunji Ajanaku     Nagode     Association Of Kwara State Online Media Practitioners     Saidu Yaro Musa     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     Wahab Issa     Taofeek Ibraheem     Mohammed Halidu     Ajasse-Ipo     Kwabes     NYSC     Aro Yahaya     Shola Odetundun     Bamikole Omishore     Nigeria Customs Service     Yusuf Aiyedun     Suleiman Mora Omar     Micheal Imoudu     Shero     Musa Alhassan Buge     Amule     Babaita     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     Muyiwa Oladipo Kanu     Clara Nwachukwu     Nigeria Foundation For Artificial Intelligence     Amina El-Imam     Dan Masanin     Gurei     GANZY     Zulu Gambari     Abdulrazaq Akorede     Kwara State Internal Revenue Service     Muhammad Toyin Sanusi     Mohammed Danjuma     Shehu Raheem Adaramaja     Okanlawon Taiwo     Ahmad Lawan     Kayode Yusuf