Some policemen acting on alleged order from the Oga at the top have reportedly abducted a journalist who works with a popular platform.
Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was reportedly abducted by the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police. Currently, Ojukwu is held at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, in Lagos State, as per FIJ reports.
Ojukwu vanished on Wednesday, with his phones switched off and his whereabouts unknown to colleagues, family, and friends. FIJ filed a missing person report with the police 24 hours after his disappearance. Subsequently, a private investigator engaged by FIJ traced the last active location of his phones to an address in Isheri Olofin, where it’s believed the police initially apprehended him.
According to FIJ, Ojukwu’s family was informed of his detention at Panti, with authorities alleging a violation of the 2015 Cybercrime Act. A family member revealed that the arresting officers, identified as part of the IG Monitoring Team, indicated plans to transfer Ojukwu and others to Abuja after completing arrests in Lagos.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to comment on Ojukwu’s abduction, which occurred during World Press Freedom Day, where Nigerian journalists commemorated the global event. FIJ noted a parallel incident on the same day last year when Ojukwu was arrested by the Area F Police in Lagos for intervening in a confrontation.
Additionally, FIJ referenced previous encounters with law enforcement, including the interrogation of Bukky Shonibare, FIJ’s Board of Trustees Chair, by the National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja. This incident followed FIJ’s publication regarding the alleged misuse of funds by a government official.
Ademuyiwa Adejobi, then Police Public Relations Officer, mentioned “weighty allegations” against FIJ and its founder, ‘Fisayo Soyombo, in a television interview.