Officials of the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) have condemned the abduction of the Editor of FirstNews, an online Newspaper, Segun Olatunji, urging the Federal Government to facilitate his immediate release.
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AMDF lamented the manner Olatunji was abducted, saying he had been held incommunicado since March 15. A statement by the Manager, Press Freedom, AMDF, Zhiroh Samuel Jatau, read: “We spoke with his wife, Oluwatosin Alice Olatunji; his brother, Tolu Olatunji, and his colleagues. From our discussions, no one has a clear picture of who and why the journalist was abducted, and no agency has taken responsibility for his disappearance.”

“We have seen statements by other concerned bodies linking the abduction to a story he wrote. We can’t substantiate that, but the appearance and commando nature of the abduction appears to be related to his journalism work.”

AMDF called on “all security agencies to look into the matter with utmost urgency and take all necessary actions to bring Olatunji back home safe and in full sanity.”

The group added: “The trauma on the family and colleagues is devastating. There is a deep yearning to hear from Olatunji and know his whereabouts and his condition. This will answer questions raised by his family and colleagues.”

Olatunji’s wife was quoted as saying: “My husband is not a troublesome man. He is just diligent. I, most of the time, ask him to take a rest but works and works. He sleeps very late and wakes up very early. This situation of his abduction is affecting me in all areas.”