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.

Olufolake Abdulrazaq     Jimoh Bashir     Simeon Sule Ajibola     Bisi Kristien     Paul Olawoore     Ojo Isekuse     Kolo     Amosa     Neuropsychiatric Hospital     Innocent Okoye     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Abdulrahman Abdulrazak     Tunji Ajanaku     Olayinka Oladapo Jogunola     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     Jimba Babatunde     Victor Gbenga Yusuf     Apata Ajele Secondary School     Ayodele Olaosebikan     Wahab Isa     Pakata Patriots     AbdulRazaq Jiddah     Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq     A.O. Belgore     Joseph Bamigboye     Tafidan Kaiama     Olabode George Towoju     Aisha Gobir     Abubakar Suleiman     Femi Oladiji     Kwara State University Of Education     Muhammed Danjuma     Adamu B. Yaqubu     Markaz Arabic And Islamic Training Institute, Agege     Baakini     Suleiman Abubakar     Abdulrosheed Okiki     T And K FOODS     Is\'haq Modibbo Kawu     Babajide Ajayi     Madawaki     Olabimpe Olani     Kayode Laro     Akanbi-Oke     Lawan     SSA Youth Engagement     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Mubarak Oladosu     Mohammed Abduraheem     Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq     Razaq Ayobami Akanbi     Kawu     Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita     Seed Technologies     Yahaya Abdulkareem     Christopher Odetunde     Amos Justus Sayo     Basic Education Certificate Examination     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Adijat Adebiyi     Kabir Shagaya     Bamidele Adegoke     Osinbajo     Ridhwanullah Al-Ilory     08001000100     Sa\'ad Alanamu     Sadiq Umar     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Jaiz Bank     Bola Iyabo Ibiyeye Adisa     Abdulrasheed Akogun     Abdulhakeem Amao     Folaranmi Aro     Share     Abubakar Aliagan     Oloruntoyosi Thomas    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Lanre Olosunde     Kwara Liberation Group     Isiaka Abdulrazak     Yahaya Abdulkareem     Umar Ahmed Gunu     Doyin Group     Tayo Alao     Ibrahim Oniye     Usman Alkali Baba     Aishat Sulu-Gambari     Sheikh Hamzat Yusuf Ariyibi     Tunde Yusuf     Zulu Gambari     Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union     Garment Factory     Basic Education Certificate Examination     Gamji Members Association     Kamaldeen Gambari     Hausa     Isiaka Danmeromu     Monsurat Omotosho     Adeola Abraham     Sam Onile     Christopher Ayeni     Marafan Shonga     Hikmah AbdulKareem     Gbemisola Oguntimehin     Olatomiwa Williams     Suleiman Abubakar     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     Bamidele Adegoke     Ajidagba     Just Event Online     Tafida Of Kaiama     KWASEIC     Baba Issa     Abatemi Usman     Idris Garuba     Shola Odetundun     Damilola Yusuf Adelodun     Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen     Kwara 2019     Bolakale Ayo     Ibrahim Abikan     Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund     Facemasks     Bola Tinubu     Oke Sunna     Saheed Popoola     Alapansapa     Idowu Aremu     Mohammed Jimoh Faworaja     Allocation     Muhammadu Buhari     Sanitation Exercise     Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah     Lawan     Demola Banu     Bluenile Associates     Shuaib Jawondo     Federal Allocation     Sulyman Tejidini     TETFUND     Chikanda     Senate Presidency     Shuaib Olarongbe     AIT Ilorin     Odo-Owa     Baboko     Kayode Ibrahim     Hameed Oladipupo Ali     Sambo Murtala     Kale Belgore     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     Valsolar Consortium     Ojo Isekuse     Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations