· Media bodies, CSOs decry militarization of civic space
By Our Correspondent
The military through the Defense Intellogence Agency, DIA, has claimed it abducted the editor of FirstNews Newspapers, Mr. Segun Olatunji to forestall a potential “threat to national security.”
Mr. Olatunji was abducted by armed men wearing military uniforms and who introduced themselves as military personnel from the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force and the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA.
Mr. Olatunji was picked from his home in a Lagos suburb on March 15, 2024, his phones seized, he was handcuffed and flown blindfolded to Abuja where he was kept in an underground cell for 14 days.
Following the brazen assault and abduction, media and civil society organizations issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to bring to account all those involved the illegal arrest and detention of the editor.
The coalition expressed “deep concern and strong condemnation” regarding the unlawful arrest, detention, brutalisation and torture of Olatunji by military personnel in response to stories published by the media outlet.
In the statement they demanded for “a speedy, public, transparent and independent investigation into this act of barbarism displayed by military personnel as well as the brazen disregard for the Constitution and the Government’s obligations under relevant domestic laws and international instruments.
On Sunday, in a statement signed by Malam Kabiru A. Yusuf, President, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN, and Nigerian Press Organizations, NPO, Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose, Executive Secretary, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, BON, Eze Anaba, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, MFR, National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Maureen Chigbo, President, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, Musikilu Mojeed, President, International Press Institute, Nigeria Chapter, IPI Nigeria, Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, MRA, Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre, IPC, and Adetokunbo Mumuni, Director, Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project, SERAP, the coalition noted that the Defence Intelligence Agency requested a meeting with the NPO, BON and the civil society partners on April 14.2024.
According to the statement, “the military authorities said they acted to forestall a potential threat to national security and would have reported the matter to the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) – The National Media Ombudsman – if they had been aware of its existence.”
The coalition said after reviewing the outcome of the April 14 meeting, has referred the matter to the Ombudsman for adjudication.
The report of the Ombudsman process would be made public.
“We hope that the parties concerned will seize this opportunity to settle the matter in the interest of law, order and respect for the provisions of Nigeria’s constitution.
“Besides, the specific issue of Olatunji, the group condemns the increasing militarisation of the civic space, which has seen increasing use of excessive force by soldiers in matters that would have ordinarily be handled by the police,” the statement read.
