The Editor of FirstNews, an online newspaper, Segun Olatunji has been forcefully whisked away to an unknown destination by gunmen suspected to be soldiers, a development which has thrown panic among staff of the Newspaper and family members, as well as colleagues of the journalist.
Penpushing reports that the armed men on Friday at about 6pm stormed the residence of Olatunji located in Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos State and arrested him without leaving any information behind as to where they were taking him to.
The management of the organization through the publisher Daniel Iworiso-Markson, confirmed the incident, raising the alarm that there has been no trace of Olatunji, as at the time of filing this report on Saturday.
Penpushing further reports that Iworiso-Markson, added that Olatuni’s phone line has been switched, neither has anyone reached the family or the management of FirstNews to disclose the real reason behind his abduction.
The management linked the action to a recent story published by FirstNews titled, “Revealed: “Defence Chief running office like family business – Public Interest Lawyers”, which was also published by many other online platforms.
Penpushing also reports that the media outlet in the same vein, linked the abduction of the journalist to another report titled, “EXCLUSIVE: How contractor, company stole N100bn, laundered funds for top government officials – Investigation”, which was later pulled down.
The Publisher while condemning the way and manner Olatunji was whisked away stated that he was never invited formally to answer any issue that bothered on national security.
‘The management of FirstNews is using this opportunity to call on the military high command and the security agencies to let us know his whereabout and the reason why he was arrested. FirstNews (online and print) is a reputable independent digital news network that prides itself on being a frontline media outfit committed to engaging her world-class audience with factual, authentic, and credible information’, he said.
‘We conduct our journalism activities with strict observance of the high standards of ethics, accountability, professionalism and legality, while exercising our rights to freedom of expression and information, all in a bid to ensure credible reporting of the news behind the news in Politics, Business, Education, Sport, Health, Entertainment and many more’, he added.
“If there was any infraction that bothers on national security, Olatunji should have first been formally invited rather that this gestapo style of arrest that reminds of the dark days of the military era, where press freedom was stifled”.
Penpushing reports that the wife of the journalist, Abiodun Olatunji explained that the armed men numbering ten on arrival the family residence, reached for his phone and seized it immediately and thereafter bundled him into a van like a common criminal and zoomed off.
The spouse said as at the time of filing this report efforts to know offence of Olatunji, a formed Kaduna Bureau Chief of Punch newspapers, or where they were taken him to were rebuffed by the stern-looking men.
‘Some armed men dressed in military uniform totaling ten in number (two in uniform and the remaining 8 in mufti but all armed) arrived at our residence at Dauda Oriyomi street, Iyana Odo along Joke Ayo in Abule Egba area of Lagos State and took away my husband. They refused to state his offence and where they were taken him to despite all the efforts to make them do so”, she said.
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