NewsNigeria14-Day Ultimatum Issued to Government Over FirstNews Editor’s Arrest

Nigeria’s media landscape is in turmoil following the arrest of a prominent editor, Segun Olatunji from independent news outlet FirstNews.

Olatunji was abducted from his Lagos residence on 15th March by unidentified armed men who identified themselves as officers of the Nigerian Army.

He was flown from Lagos to Abuja in a blindfold and cuffs to be grilled on certain stories published by the online media as its editor. He was freed after two weeks.

The details surrounding the arrest remain unclear, but outrage has swiftly mounted, with media bodies issuing a joint statement demanding decisive action from the government.

According to a press release issued by the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, NPAN, and seven others on Sunday, Olatunji’s arrest is a blatant attack on press freedom.

The statement condemns the action and calls for a “speedy, public, transparent and independent investigation into the incident in order identify all persons within and outside the military who were connected with the violation of Mr Olatunji’s rights.”

The unions gave a 14-day ultimatum to the Nigerian government. They demand the identification, arrest, and prosecution of those responsible for orchestrating the Editor’s arrest.

“There should be full accountability for all those responsible. Therefore, all persons within and outside the military who are found to have been connected with the incident, including those who effected Mr Olatunji’s arrest, detention and torture, those who directly commanded them, and those who ordered or instigated the action, should be prosecuted before the appropriate court,” they stated.

“In accordance with Section 35(6) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Federal Government should pay Mr Olatunji substantial compensation and issue a public apology to him for the unlawful and unconstitutional violation of his rights as well as the inhuman and degrading treatment to which he was subjected.”

Failure of the authorities to comply within the stipulated timeframe will likely trigger further actions, which the statement does not explicitly detail.

This is not the first time the Nigerian government has faced criticism for its handling of press freedom. Journalists and media organisations have long accused the authorities of stifling dissent and cracking down on critical reporting.

Olatunji’s arrest has reignited these concerns, raising questions about the government’s commitment to a free and independent press.