The Intelligence Response Team of Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, have arrested Daniel Ojukwu, an investigative journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
Ojukwu, who is currently held at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, in Lagos State, was arrested on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
For 24-hours, his whereabouts were unknown to colleagues, family and friends. FIJ, then, filed a missing person report at police stations in the area where Ojukwu was headed.
On May 3 when the world marked international press day, Ojukwu’s family traced the reporter to Panti where he’s being accused of violating the 2015 Cybercrime Act.
“The arresting officers are part of the IG Monitoring Team. They said when they are done arresting the other people on their watchlist in Lagos, they would transfer him and others to Abuja,” FIJ quoted the family member as saying.
Though Nigeria Police Force spokesperson Ademuyiwa Adejobi, says there were “two or three weighty allegations” against FIJ and its founder Fisayo Soyombo, he failed to respond to comments on Ojukwu’s arrest.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) calls on the immediate release of Ojukwu and the surveillance of FIJ journalists. We also urge the Nigerian government to desist from the harassment and violation of journalists’ freedom of movement.
