THE Gestapo-like abduction of the Editor of FirstNews, Segun Olatunji, by Defence Intelligence Agency officers for several days typifies the impunity and lawlessness of the country’s security agencies. This illegal incarceration of a journalist performing his constitutional duties is highly unacceptable in a democracy. The Federal Government should ensure that all the officers involved are dealt with and Olatunji and his family duly compensated.

On March 15, Olatunji, a former Kaduna State correspondent of The PUNCH, was abducted by men in military uniform from his home in Iyana-Odo, Abule-Egba, in Lagos State. For 12 days, his whereabouts were unknown. His family and employers were traumatised, and despite repeated inquiries and efforts, the military stridently denied his detention. Olatunji said he was chained in the hands and legs.

Media stakeholders, including the International Press Institute, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors linked Olatunji’s ordeal to a story published by FirstNews entitled, ‘Revealed: Defence Chief Running Office Like Family Business – Public Interest Lawyers.’

After sustained pressure from the media, the editor was finally released on March 28. This is grossly unjust.

The Secretary of the NGE, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, said, “For us, this vicious, uncivilised, unlawful, and criminal action of the DIA is unacceptable. The action is alien to Nigeria’s democratic space. It is now clear that some officers in our military are still finding it difficult to subject themselves to civil authority 24 years after our country returned to representative governance. We do not think this kind of attitude should be condoned by President Bola Tinubu, particularly, and Nigerians, in general.”

For officers in a military institution like the DIA to bypass the court and sidestep the police to orchestrate the commando-style arrest of a journalist evinces the overreaches of power wielded by the military. This lawlessness is antipodal to the country’s democracy and should no longer continue.

Undoubtedly, the actions of the DIA, which reports to the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Emmanuel Undiandeye, are against the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and other international agreements to which Nigeria is party. These agreements prohibit detaining any citizen for longer than 48 hours without a valid court order.

Abducting and torturing a journalist over a story that reflects poorly on the military is a direct and gruesome attack on press freedom. The World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders ranked Nigeria No. 123, scoring a pitiful 49.56 out of the 180 countries surveyed. South Africa was ranked 25^th, and Namibia was ranked 22^nd. In 2022, Nigeria was ranked number 129. These reflect poorly on freedoms in Nigeria.

A media agency, Article 19, in an online briefing, noted that attacks on journalists in Nigeria doubled in 2020, stating that 51 crimes were committed against 60 journalists between January and October. “In the same period in 2019, at least 19 journalists and media professionals suffered attacks, including arrests, detention, assaults, threats, and seizure of equipment,” it added.

This is a throwback to the ghastly era of military dictatorship. Then, the military brutalised journalists, hounded and jailed journalists for spurious offences. Military dictators like Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida and the late Sani Abacha, detained journalists and summarily shut media houses for performing their duty. Tinubu should not let Nigeria return to those dark days.

The Federal Government should uphold the tenets of democracy and press freedom. If a journalist has breached the laws of the country, there are democratic tools that could be deployed through the right judicial processes. The military overreaches of power into civilian matters should be stopped. The government should investigate this gross abuse of human rights against Olatunji and compensate him and his family. (Daily Trust)

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