FirstNews Editor regains freedom from military custody

The Editor of FirstNews, Segun Olatunji, who was arrested by soldiers in Lagos about two weeks ago, has regained freedom.

It was gathered that Olatunji was released by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) on Thursday, March 28, 2024.

He was released to the General Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Iyobosa Uwugiaren, and the Deputy Editor of The Nation Newspaper, Yomi Odunuga, in the Asokoro area of Abuja on Thursday.

The National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) had, on Wednesday, called on President Bola Tinubu to order the release of Olatunji.

IPI Nigeria urged Tinubu to activate the powers of his office as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to direct the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, to release Olatunji.

IPI seeks Tinubu’s help on FirstNews Editor’s release

The institute noted that multiple checks by the institute revealed that Olatunji is in the custody of the DIA, an agency under the command of Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, who, in turn, reports to the Chief of Defence Staff.

The NGE officials, however, disclosed that one of the security operatives said the FirstNews Editor was arrested for terrorism.

Speaking on the arrest on March 15, Olatunji’s wife disclosed that soldiers numbering ten arrived at their residence in Iyana Odo in the Abule Egba area of Lagos State at about 6 p.m. and whisked her husband away without leaving any information behind as to where they were taking him to.

She said the soldiers reached for her husband’s phone and seized it immediately they arrived before bundling him into a van like a common criminal and zoomed off.

She added that efforts to know her husband’s offence or where they were taken him to were rebuffed by the stern-looking men.

The Star