SaharaReporters had reported how 10 armed men suspected to be soldiers abducted Olatunji at his home at Iyana Odo, in the Abule Egba area of Lagos State.
Lagos-based Editor of First News and former Kaduna Bureau Chief of Punch Newspaper, Mr. Segun Olatunji has been freed by his abductors.
His release was reported by Vanguard Newspaper after spending roughly two weeks in captivity.
SaharaReporters had reported how 10 armed men suspected to be soldiers abducted Olatunji at his home at Iyana Odo, in the Abule Egba area of Lagos State.
His abduction was suspected to be linked to either one of two recent stories published on his online platform, titled: “Revealed: Defence Chief Running Office like Family Business – Public Interest Lawyers,” and “Exclusive: How Contractor, Company Stole N100bn, Laundered Funds for Top Govt Officials – Investigation.”
His abduction had generated a lot of outrage from concerned civil society and organisations.
Notable of them was a call made by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to ask for the immediate release of Olatunji in a press statement signed by Akorede Rauph Opeyemi, NUJ Assistant National Secretary issued last Tuesday.
The statement described the abduction or arrest of Olatunji as a threat to press freedom in Nigeria.
The statement read: “The disappearance of Segun Olatunji, the editor of First News newspapers is another sad reminder of the danger being faced on a daily basis by Journalists in the line of duty.
“Eyewitness reports had it that Olatunji was taken away last Friday in his Lagos home in the presence of his family by ten fully armed men, two of whom were dressed in military uniform.
“Although it is not clear which agency of government was responsible for the arrest of the Journalist, we believe that freedom of the press and opinion remain defining elements of the rule of law and democracy.
“For this reason, it is important for the Nigerian government to work to protect freedom of the press and freedom of movement for media professionals.
“Actions like this are clearly unacceptable and are an attempt to intimidate journalists and force them into self-censorship. The professional work of Journalists is clearly in the public interest, and acts of impunity against them should not be condoned.
“Olatunji should be released immediately and unconditionally in the interest of democracy, good governance and the rule of law.”
The International Press Centre’s Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ) had also demanded the immediate release of Olatunji.
The International Press Institute, Nigeria, had also alleged that Olatunji was in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency.
The DIA is an agency under the command of Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye. Undiandeye reports to the Chief of Defence Staff.