Segun Olatunji, the editor of FirstNews, an online news platform, was reportedly kidnapped by a group of armed men from his residence in Lagos on Thursday.
The incident occurred around 6 pm, when approximately ten gunmen arrived at Olatunji’s home in the Iyana Odo area of Abule Egba, Lagos State.
Olatunji’s wife, who was present during the abduction, stated that the armed men did not disclose their destination as they took her husband away.
Olatunji, who previously held the position of Kaduna bureau chief for The Punch, is currently missing, with concerns raised about his safety and well-being.
“Some armed men dressed in military uniform, totalling ten in number (two in uniform and the remaining 8 in mufti, but all armed), arrived at our residence at Dauda Oriyomi Street, Iyana Odo, along Joke Ayo in the Abule Egba area of Lagos State, and took away my husband.
“They refused to state his offence and where they were taking him, despite all the efforts to make them do so,” she said.
The, publisher of FirstNews, Daniel Iworiso-Markson disclosed that there has been no trace of Olatunji, as his phone line has been switched off.
Iworiso-Markson stated further that no one has reached the family or the management of FirstNews to explain why he was abducted.
“The management of FirstNews is using this opportunity to call on the military high command and the security agencies to let us know his whereabouts and the reason why he was arrested,” Iworiso-Markson said.
“FirstNews (online & print) is a reputable independent digital news network that prides itself on being a frontline media outfit committed to engaging her world-class audience with factual, authentic, and credible information.
“We conduct our journalism activities with strict observance of high standards of ethics, accountability, professionalism, and legality while exercising our rights to freedom of expression and information, all in a bid to ensure credible reporting of the news behind the news in politics, business, education, sport, health, entertainment, and many more.
“If there was any infraction that borders on national security, Olatunji should have first been formally invited, rather than this Gestapo style of arrest that reminds one of the dark days of the military era, where press freedom was stifled.”
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