In response to concerns expressed by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and Civil Society partners, on the abduction of the General Editor of FirstNews newspapers, Mr Segun Olatunji, and a demand on the government for accountability, the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), has requested a meeting with the NPO, BON and the civil society partners.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the President, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN)/President, Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), Mallam Kabiru A. Yusuf; Executive Secretary, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), Dr Yemisi Bamgbose; President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba; National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo; and President, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Maureen Chigbo.
Other signatories to the statement were President, International Press Institute, Nigeria Chapter (IPI Nigeria), Musikilu Mojeed; Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Edetaen Ojo; Executive Director, International Press Centre (IPC), Lanre Arogundade; and Director, Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP), Adetokunbo Mumuni.
The statement reads: “The military authorities said they acted to forestall a potential threat to national security and would have reported the matter to the National Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), National Media Ombudsman, if they had been aware of its existence.
“After considering this disposition towards the Ombudsman, the NPO, BON and the Civil Society Partners have decided, after reviewing the outcome of the April 14 meeting, to refer the matter to the Ombudsman for adjudication.
“The report of the Ombudsman process would be made public. We hope that the parties concerned will seize this opportunity to settle the matter in the interest of law, order and respect for the provisions of Nigeria’s constitution.”
The statement added: “Besides the specific issue of Olatunji, the group condemns the increasing militarisation of the civic space, which has seen increasing use of excessive force by soldiers in matters that would have ordinarily be handled by the police.”
