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HURIWA Condemns Abduction of Journalist, Says Nigerian Democracy Under Threat

Published

1 year ago

29/03/2024

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned the abduction of a journalist, stating that Nigeria’s military dictatorship has yet to end more than 21 years after the birth of democracy.

In response to the military’s kidnapping of FirstNews Editor Mr. Segun Olatunji, refusal to reveal his whereabouts, and subsequent release after about two weeks, HURIWA expressed concern that constitutional democracy is under serious threat.

In a statement issued on Thursday, March 28, 2024, and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA stated “Some high-ranking officials in today’s military institution in the Country have yet to come to terms with the legal reality that the military is subordinate to constitutionally established civilian authority.”

“HURIWA has observed with unquantifiable shock the revelation that the Editor of FirstNews online newspaper, Mr. Segun Olatunji, was indeed in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency, just as we note with trepidation that this development implies that the vestiges of military dictatorship have yet to be completely exterminated even after over 21 years of democracy in Nigeria.

“HURIWA believes that what this entire thing shows is that aside from the mortal fear of media freedoms, the uneasiness of the top hierarchy of the Defence Headquarters to criticisms and the discharge of the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental duty of the press as encapsulated in section 22 of the 1999 constitution as amended, can very well be interpreted to mean that some high ranking officials in today’s military institutions in the country have yet to come to terms with

“The information narrated by the honourable minister of information and national orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idriss, that even the top hierarchy of the Nigerian Army refused to disclose the whereabouts of the senior journalist Segun Olatunji kidnapped forcefully over 14 days ago by uniform-wearing armed goons from the Army, shows that Nigeria needs to put in more efforts to compel top Generals to accept that Nigeria’s constitutional democracy has come to stay and that

The group described the situation as “highly despicable and reprehensible,” and urged “the National Assembly’s committees on Armed forces to wake up from their compromised slumber and begin their oversight function and responsibilities over the hierarchies of the military and security forces before it is too late.”

HURIWA stated that the tendencies manifested in the abduction of Segun Olatunji show that “even the leadership of the National Assembly can be abducted by security agencies and the matter will just be treated with indiscretion and tardiness.”

The statement continues: “To hide information about the arrest of a journalist in such a way that depicted the Army as abductors, is, to put it mildly highly despicable and reprehensible, and we are asking the National Assembly’s committees on Armed Forces to wake up from their compromised slumber and begin their oversight function and responsibilities over the hierarchies of the military and security forces before it is late because the tendencies manifested in the abduction

HURIWA, while lamenting that the spate of military abductions is not only a threat to freedom of expression but a reminder that Nigeria is “not far from the Abacha-era of hatred of media freedoms,” also called for an investigation into the “unfortunate act of lawlessness and impunity” and urged “President Tinubu to take steps to ensure that his military officers do not pose existential threats to constitutionalism.”

“The security guards were masked, and the number plates of their vehicles were covered. All of his release documents were signed inside a security vehicle surrounded by heavily armed operatives on Thursday morning, March 28, 2024.

HURIWA also urged European countries with embassies in Nigeria to investigate the situation and demand that the Nigerian government allow journalists to perform their duties without interference, threats, or abductions.

Related Topics:DemocracY Featured HURIWA Journalist Nigerian

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