The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has asked for immediate release of the Editor of FirstNews, Segun Olatunji, who was abducted from his home in Lagos twelve days ago by some military officers.
In a statement today, March 27, jointly signed by President, IPI Nigeria, Musikilu Mojeed and Legal Adviser/Chair, Advocacy Committee, Tobi Soniyi, IPI stressed that the time to act in this matter is now.
The International Press Institute said that its finding revealed that Olatunji is in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), an agency under the command of Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, who, in turn, reports to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa.
The IPI recalled that armed men in two unmarked vans arrived at Olatunji’s home in Lagos on March 15 and that the men, two of whom wore military-style uniforms, introduced themselves as officers of the Nigerian Army and forced Olatunji to go with them.
The statement said that Olatunji’s captors refused to tell his wife, who witnessed the arrest, where he was being taken to.
IPI said that for the past eleven days, the embattled journalist has been kept incommunicado, with his family, employers, and colleagues unaware of his whereabouts.
“IPI Nigeria has received inquiries about this matter from all over the world. The Institute has also contacted the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Army, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Defence Headquarters, and the Ministry of Information and National Orientation seeking information on Mr Olatunji and demanding his release. “All efforts in this direction have so far failed.
“IPI is therefore calling on President Tinubu to direct the Nigerian military authorities to immediately release Mr Olatunji or charge him to court if he has committed any offence.
The international community should also pay attention to the unjust detention of Mr. Olatunji by the Nigerian military.
The rule of law demands that an accused person is allowed to defend himself in a court of law within a reasonable time. This also conforms with the provisions of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which forbids the detention of any citizen or resident beyond 48 hours, except with a valid court order.”
The IPI, which called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene by directing the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, to release the journalist, reminded the authorities that Nigeria had continued to rank low in the comity of nations in the area of upholding human rights.
IPI said that the action of the military has triggered speculations among journalists and human rights activists around the world that the Nigerian military may be keeping some vital information away from the public, concerning the journalist’s safety.

Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has confirmed that he was invited by the security agencies in respect of the lingering insecurity in the country.
In a statement today, March 26 March, titled “ONLY ONE PERSON IS ABOVE THE LAW: THE INNOCENT!” Dr Gumi said: “Last night I got many frantic calls from well-wishers and journalists about a news item that I was interviewed by security. There is absolutely no cause for alarm.
“Yes, we had a productive interaction on how to curb banditry as we are all trying -each in his own sphere- to tackle the monster bedeviling the nation. There was no animosity but courtesy and full of respect.
“We all need as a nation to unite and work in synergy to achieve an everlasting peace. I thank you for your concern.
“May Allah continue to protect us all from all evil. Amin.”
The nation’s minister of information, Mohammed Idris had, yesterday, March 25, said that Sheikh Gumi had been invited by security agencies for questioning over his controversial comments which, according to some, had been seen as supportive of bandits.
Confirmation by Gumi, of his interrogation by security agencies is coming in the wake of reports that he has been banned for life from entering Saudi Arabia.

Another veteran Nollywood actor, Amaechi Muonagor is reportedly dead, days after he solicited for help to treat his kidney failure ailment. He died today, March 24, at the age of 62.
His death was announced by a social commentator, Morris Monye, via his X handle.
Muonagor was said to have suffered kidney failure and was on dialysis.
Monye wrote: “Deeply heartbroken by the news of Amaechi Muonagor’s passing.
“He was a talented Nollywood actor whose presence on our screens was truly masterful.
“We watched with concern as he battled health issues, offering whatever support we could to help him seek treatment in India.
“This tragic loss highlights the need for better healthcare in our country.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Muonagor, a native of Idemili, in Anambra, was born August 20, 1962.
He was an actor and producer. In 2016, he was nominated for AMVCA 2017 Best Actor in a comedy.
In 1989, after his youth service, Muonagor started working for the News Agency of Nigeria. He left his job a few years later for an acting role in his first movie as Akunatakasi in Taboo 1, a Nigerian movie.

The Defence Headquarters has confirmed the rescue of 137 out of the 287 kidnapped Kaduna State schoolchildren in Zamfara State.
A statement today, March 24 said that those rescued were made up of 76 females and 61 males.
The Defence Headquarter’s statement, issued by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said that the students were rescued in Zamfara State and will be transported and handed over to the Kaduna State Government.
“It would be recalled that on 7 March 2024, troops received information that terrorists had invaded LEA School Kuriga in Chikun LG of Kaduna State. During the incident an unconfirmed number of pupils were abducted.
“Following the incident, the military committed to leaving no stone unturned until all the hostages were rescued.
“Accordingly, in the early hours of 24 March 2024, the military working with local authorities and government agencies across the country, in a coordinated search and rescue operation rescued the hostages.
“The hostages are the same persons that were abducted from the school at Kuriga in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State.
“The rescued hostages totalling 137 comprise 76 females and 61 male.
“They were rescued in Zamfara State and would be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action.
“Relatedly, it would be recalled that on 21 Mar 24, troops equally rescued 16 pupils (Almajiris) with a woman taken hostage in Gada LGA of Sokoto State.
“These hostages were handed over to the Sokoto State Government.
“These efforts demonstrate the armed forces resolve to finding other innocent hostages and track down the terrorists that perpetrated these crimes.
“These efforts would continue until other hostages are found and the terrorists arrested, tried, and brought to justice by Nigerian law.
“Troops are employing similar efforts to trackdown the culprits responsible for the killings of 18 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State.
“Justice awaits the culprits, as they cannot go unpunished.”

The Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani has attributed the release of 287 schoolchildren by terrorists who kidnapped them on March 7 to the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu and the Nigerian Army.
The Governor, who made this known in the early hours of today, March 24, in a statement, specially thanked the President, the NSA and the Army, but would not give details of the roles they played for the pupils to have been let off the kidnappers’ hook.

The Governor was silence as to whether a ransom was paid to the kidnappers who had earlier demanded trillion of naira as ransom, or whether the pupils were rescued after exchange of fire between the soldiers and the terrorists.
The terrorists had on March 7, stormed LGEA Primary School, Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and kidnapped scores of pupils and teachers at about 8:20 am immediately after the morning assembly.

The Spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Mallam Olawale Rasheed has approached the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo seeking for the protection and enforcement of his fundamental human rights against the State Security Service (DSS), Director General of the State Security Service, the Osun State Director of the State Security and Femi Oyetola, son of the former Governor of Osun State, who is now the Minister of Blue Economy.
In a suit: FHC/OS/CS/89/2024, Olawale is praying the court to restrain the security operatives, either personally or through any of their agents or representatives, from inviting him, arresting him or threatening his rights to liberty, freedom of movement, freedom of expression and freedom of association in any manner on the malicious instigation of Femi Oyetola who is acting the script of some faceless and mischievous politicians who are collaborating to settle political scores against him (Olawale).
In the suit filed March on 22, Olawale fingered Femi Oyetola as being embittered with the loss of his father and their political gang at the last Osun Governorship election, and as the mouthpiece of the incumbent Governor of Osun State who upstaged Femi’s father, Oyetola, he is being maliciously hunted by members of the opposition APC, using Femi Oyetola, in active collaboration with security agents, to trample upon his fundamental rights.
Olawale deposed to the fact that he is not in anyway a threat to the internal peace and security of Nigeria or any part thereof, to warrant security agents to invite him, but the move by the collaborators is in a bid to play the cards of the opposition APC who are planning to have him illegally arrested and unlawfully detained so as to subdue him or hijack from him his fundamental rights to liberty, freedom of movement, expression and association which he is entitled to at all times since he has not committed any offense to warrant the curtailment of his fundamental rights.
He submitted in the court documents that by virtue of section 46 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as altered, he needs not wait till his rights are trampled upon before approaching the court.
In Olawale’s opinion, Oyetola’s move is in connivance with the unsettled opposition APC who are troubled by the daily exposure of their bad governance, unpalatable and unprogressive deeds which they meted out to Osun people while the APC led by Oyetola was in power.
The plaintiff further pointed out that the media agents of the opposition APC have already bombarded the media with the news of his invitation/arrest by the DSS, and that they (APC) have started rejoicing that the Spokesperson to Governor Adeleke is already in the net or will be in the net of the security agents and they will ensure they pressurize the security agents not to release but punish him unjustly having not committed any offence.
This is an indication that the invitation is tainted with malice and witch haunt of the opposition APC with the sole goal of settling political scores with prominent aides and members of Governor Adeleke’s Team.
Olawale therefore entreated the court to grant his reliefs so as not allow the defendants to collaborate at trampling upon his rights or get at him unjustifiably.
He has also dispatched his team of legal practitioners to represent him at the DSS Headquarters which is within his rights as a citizen of Nigeria.