By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Nigerian Human Rights Coalition have called on the Nigerian police to immediately release a human rights defender and journalist, Theodore Chinonso Uba, a.k.a Nonso Nkwa who is currently in their custody.

The 15 Coalition whichh include, Sterling Law Centre, Abuja, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Lagos, Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) Umuahia, among others also urged the Police to drop all charges against Uba, and cease further efforts to intimidate him and his family.

The Nigerian Human Rights Coalition said today.

Mr Uba, a journalistand radio presenter who isalso thecoordinator of ˜Protect the Weak International Foundation PROWIF, a human rights group based in Owerri,Imo state was allegedly abducted over the weekendwhile he was on his way from work at Osisa FM radio station in the area.

According to several eyewitnesses, Uba was abducted at about 10 00am weekend by several masked men in three unmarked vehicles in front of Maria Assumpta Cathedral churchin Owerri.

He was reportedly taken to the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) of the Imo State police command.

According to the group, it is believed that he is currently detained at the Police Force Headquarters Abuja.

The statement which was signed by the 15 coalition reads in part: Nigerian authorities should immediately release journalist Theodore Chinonso Uba and drop all charges against him. No journalist should be intimidated or arrested because of his work. The Nigerian Police have too often proven brazenly willing to flout the law to intimidate the press.

We are convinced that Nonso Nkwa is being targeted for his work as a journalist, his criticism of the Imo state government as well as the spate of killings by both state and non-state actors in the Imo state.

Nonso Nkwa has in the past faced constant threats and intimidation from security agents and the Imo state government officials for his human rights advocacy.

In July 2022, Mr. Nonso Nkwa cried out about his safety, accusing security agents of coming after him after his radio station Osisa FM was shut down by the Federal Government and his house surrounded by security agents.

The incident came after the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) shut down the radio station on the order of Imo state government for reporting the July 17 killing of 14 wedding guests in Awomama in Oru East Local Government Area of the state by the Imo state security outfit, Ebubeagu.