Segun Olatunji, a prominent Nigerian journalist and Editor of FirstNews, has been released after spending 14 days in military custody in Abuja.
His freedom was announced on Thursday during a joint press briefing by the International Press Institute (IPI), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the nation’s capital.
Olatunji’s ordeal began when he was allegedly abducted from his home in Lagos on March 15. He recounted being blindfolded and transported to Abuja on a military aircraft, a claim initially denied by military authorities. However, they later admitted to detaining him.
The Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, disclosed the circumstances of Olatunji’s release. He explained that the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) contacted Yomi Odunuga, a deputy editor at the Nation Newspaper, instructing him to receive Olatunji at their facility in Asokoro District, Abuja. After a series of phone calls directing them to different locations, Olatunji was eventually handed over to Odunuga on a bridge in Asokoro.
During his detention, Olatunji alleged mistreatment by the military, including being blindfolded, handcuffed, and held in an underground cell. He expressed concerns for his safety, citing surveillance and tracking of his movements prior to his abduction.
At the press briefing, representatives from IPI, NGE, and NUJ condemned the military’s actions, describing them as “vicious, uncivilised, and criminal.” They called on President Bola Tinubu to address the issue and safeguard press freedom in Nigeria.
Uwugiaren emphasised the importance of a free press in democracy and acknowledged the efforts of government officials in securing Olatunji’s release.
The release of Segun Olatunji marks a victory for press freedom advocates in Nigeria, but questions remain regarding the circumstances of his detention and the military’s actions.
