By John Dike, Osogbo
The International Press Centre (IPC) has condemned the arrest and detention of the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council, Mr. Olalekan Akindoju, by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, describing the incident as unlawful and a threat to press freedom.
The organisation, through its Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub, called on the Nigeria Police Force to publicly apologize to the journalist and thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
Mr. Akindoju, who also serves as Head of News and Current Affairs at Rave 91.7FM/WSTV, was reportedly arrested at his residence in Osogbo in the early hours of Thursday and detained for several hours before regaining his freedom following interventions by colleagues and the leadership of the NUJ.
In a statement issued by the Press Freedom Officer of the IPC-SPJ Hub, Melody Akinjiyan, the media rights organization expressed concern over what it described as an unwarranted arrest carried out without adequate verification.
According to the statement, police operatives allegedly stormed Akindoju’s residence at about 6 a.m., arrested him and seized his mobile phone without providing satisfactory explanations for their actions.
Speaking with the Press Freedom Officer of the IPC-SPJ Hub shortly after his release, Akindoju narrated his ordeal.
“They invaded my residence this morning around 6 a.m., arrested me and seized my phone without any valid explanation. All attempts to identify myself as a journalist failed, as they refused to listen to me or give me an opportunity to call anyone,” he said.
The journalist further disclosed that he remained in police custody for nearly five hours before his release.
“I was detained for almost five hours before I was released after the intervention of colleagues and the NUJ. The Police claimed it was a case of mistaken identity,” Akindoju added.
Reacting to the incident, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, criticized the conduct of the officers involved and urged security agencies to exercise greater caution and professionalism in carrying out arrests.
According to Arogundade, journalists should not be subjected to intimidation or unlawful arrests while carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.
“This incident is highly condemnable, and the Police must do due diligence in gathering intelligence and information before initiating arrests, especially as it pertains to journalists,” he stated.
The IPC noted that the arrest raises serious concerns about the safety of journalists and the protection of press freedom in Nigeria.
The organization stressed that media practitioners play a critical role in promoting transparency, accountability and democratic governance, adding that actions capable of intimidating journalists could undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.
The Safety and Protection of Journalists Hub also called on the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, CP Ibrahim Gotan, to order a comprehensive investigation into the incident and ensure that any officers found culpable are held accountable.
The media advocacy group emphasized the need for law enforcement agencies to respect fundamental human rights and constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression and press freedom.
It further urged police authorities to create an enabling environment that allows journalists to perform their duties without fear of harassment, intimidation or unlawful interference.
The IPC’s position aligns with that of the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, which had earlier condemned the arrest and demanded an unreserved public apology from the Nigeria Police Force to Akindoju, his family, Rave 91.7FM/WSTV and the journalism profession.
The NUJ had described the arrest as embarrassing and avoidable, insisting that proper due diligence by security operatives would have prevented the incident.
Media stakeholders and civil society groups have continued to express concern over the development, warning that incidents of arbitrary arrests and intimidation of journalists pose significant threats to press freedom and democratic accountability.
As calls for accountability continue to mount, observers say the outcome of any investigation into the incident will serve as an important test of the commitment of security agencies to respect the rights of journalists and uphold democratic principles.
