The Kwara and Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has condemned the arrest of Rowland Olonishuwa, a prominent journalist and member of the Herald Chapel of the Union, who was forcefully taken away from his residence along Asa-Dam Road, Ilorin on Wednesday morning (25th of September, 2024) by detectives of the Special Fraud Unit of the Police from Lagos State.
Also, the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has condemned the arrest of one of its members, Seun Odunlami, by operatives of the Nigeria Police from Lagos state police command.
Earlier, the Police had also arrested Olawale Rotimi in Lagos and denied him bail conditions.
The Kwara State council in a statement issued and signed by its Secretary, Mahmood Olayinka Alaya on behalf of the Chairman, condemned how the arrest was carried out, said it was tantamount to intimidation and an infringement on the fundamental human rights of its member.
The statement read:
“Upon receiving report of the incident yesterday (Wednesday) morning, the leadership of the Kwara NUJ Council immediately swung into action, reaching out to the Kwara State Police Command to inquire about the arrest. In a conversation with the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, it was confirmed that the Kwara State Police Command was unaware of the operation and had not been informed of any planned activities involving officers from Lagos.
“The Kwara NUJ Council finds this situation deeply troubling, as the secretive nature of the arrest violates proper legal and procedural norms. Arresting a journalist without prior notification or collaboration with the State Police Command not only raises concerns about the respect for due process but also lends credence to a disturbing trend of intimidation toward members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
“In response to this development, the Kwara NUJ Council yesterday (Wednesday) morning informed the leadership of the Lagos State NUJ Council, seeking their immediate intervention. A call for the swift release of Mr Olonishuwa has been issued, along with a demand for an explanation regarding the involvement of Lagos-based security operatives in an arrest conducted far outside their jurisdiction. The Council has also flagged reports of similar arrests in Lagos and Abeokuta involving other publishers, raising concerns about a coordinated crackdown on press freedom.
“As a Union whose responsibility is enshrined in the Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), we will not condone any form of intimidation, harassment, or illegal detention of Journalists, especially when such actions are carried out with utter disregard for the rule of law and fundamental human rights.
“In solidarity with the affected family, representatives from Kwara NUJ Council reached out to Mr Olonishuwa’s home, offering emotional support and assuring them that every legal measure will be pursued to secure his freedom.
“The NUJ Kwara Council reiterates its commitment to the protection of press freedom and safety of its members. The union calls on the Nigeria Police Force to urgently address this violation and reminds all state actors that the press is not an enemy of the state but a vital pillar of democracy.
“This is a clear breach of journalistic rights, and the NUJ Kwara State Council will continue to stand firm in its quest for justice. We urge all relevant authorities to handle this matter with the seriousness it deserves, to prevent the erosion of trust between the public, the press, and law enforcement agencies.”
The arrest is said not to be unconnected with a recent story published on some online news platforms.
The Ogun State NUJ in a statement signed by its Secretary, Bunmi Adigun and made available to journalists on Thursday described the arrest as “shocking and unlawful.
Odunlami said to be the publisher of Newsjaunts online was reportedly arrested on Wednesday by operatives of the Lagos State Police command.
When contacted by the NUJ, the spokesman of the Ogun State Police Command, Superintendent of Police, Omolola Odutola, said that no official report has been made against the arrest of the journalist but that the command will swing into action to help locate his whereabouts.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ogun NUJ, Wale Olanrewaju, said that with the kind assistance of the state police command, the union has established contact with the Special Fraud Unit in Lagos and they have confirmed that the journalist is with them.