Gunmen abduct FirstNews editor in Lagos
By Innocent Raphael
Editor of FirstNews and former Kaduna Bureau Chief of The PUNCH, Segun Olatunji, has been abducted from his home in the Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos State by gunmen, suspected to be soldiers.
The management of FirstNews linked the abduction to a recent article titled, “Defence Chief running office like family business – Public Interest Lawyers,” published by several online platforms.
Additionally, they connected it to another report titled, “EXCLUSIVE: How contractor, company stole N100bn, laundered funds for top govt officials – Investigation,” which was later removed.
Olatunji’s wife, Abiodun, described how ten armed men arrived at their residence around 6pm, seized his phone, and took him away without providing any information about their destination. Despite her inquiries, the men remained silent and swiftly departed with her husband.
“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 taking him to despite all the efforts to make them do so”, she said.
Narrating the incident further, she revealed that efforts to know his offence or where they were taking him to were rebuffed by the stern-looking men.
FirstNews Publisher, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, confirming the incident, stated that there had been no trace of Olatunji, as his phone line has been switched off, neither had anyone reached the family or the management of FirstNews to disclose the real reason behind his abduction.
While condemning the way and manner Olatunji was whisked away, Iworiso-Markson stated that he was never invited formally to answer any issue that bordered 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 whereabouts and the reason why he was arrested.
“FirstNews (online & 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.
“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.
“If there was any infraction that borders 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”, he said.
