The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja Council, has denounced what it described as ‘the commando-like raiding’ of the home of Mr. Madu Onuorah, Editor-in-Chief of Globalupfront newspaper, an online platform, and his subsequent abduction by security agents, warning that the spate of police harassment of journalists under the guise of making arrests is becoming unbearable.
In a statement signed by Secretary of the Council, Mr. Ochiaka Ugwu, the NUJ Abuja wondered why the police would appear to have resorted to this mode of arrest in recent time, pointing out that while “we are not averse to citizens seeking redress over legitimate infringements on their rights, we believe that constitutional means should be strictly adhered to in doing this.”
“A condemnable case in point is the commando like raiding of the home of Mr. Madu Onuorah, Editor-in-Chief of the Globalupfront Newspaper (Online),” the NUJ declared. “The manner of arrest leaves much to be desired from a legitimate force of the State, the Nigeria Police which should have been civil instead of intimidating and forcefully whisking away Mr. Onuorah in a manner akin to kidnapping.”
Condemning what it called “this total abuse of power laced with intimidation”, the NUJ FCT demanded the immediate release of Mr. Onuorah, former Abuja Bureau Chief of The Guardian, whom the Council praised as a “thoroughbred professional” who has always practised by the tenets of the profession.
“We insist that where any citizen or organisation believes he (Mr. Onuorah), who is also a former Managing Director of The Authority, an Abuja-based national newspaper, has a case to answer, then the constitutional path should be activated and followed” and certainly not through arrest by abduction.
“Let it be known that the NUJ will never stop holding the government and its institutions accountable to the people,” the FCT Council surmised.