Being a Nigerian is not easy.
In fact, many people have pushed out the motion that citizens of the country should be earning monthly salaries just for being citizens.
Many people have made jest of the country, saying that they can’t afford to go to hell after living in Nigeria. They say Nigeria is hell enough.
You may have heard people say that Nigeria can happen to anyone and you cannot help but wonder how?
Relax, read this story to end and see how Nigeria happened to this young journalist, Daniel Ojukwu, then maybe you would understand the risk people go through in their daily lives.
Ojukwu is an investigative journalist who had made few contributions to iBrandTV before he joined the Foundation of Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
Never had he thought that a day like this would come, a day when he (a news reporter) would become the subject or do we say the headline.
Cybercrime
The Nigeria Police Force arrested and detained a journalist Daniel Ojukwu, over an allegation bordering on “cybercrime”.
There was no formal invitation, in fact, this is why many people say the police kidnapped him.
The management of FIJ said Ojukwu went missing on May 1 while his contact numbers were not reachable, as family and friends struggled to reach him.
FIJ said a track of Ojukwu’s devices revealed his last active location to be Isheri Olofin, Alimosho Local Government Area, noting that the police arrested the journalist in this area.
The foundation revealed that Ojukwu’s family discovered he was being held by the intelligence response team (IRT) of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti area of Lagos.
It is believed that the journalist is being held for the alleged violation of the 2015 Cybercrime Act.
Investigative Story
Speaking on the matter, the FIJ founder, Fisayo Soyombo, said he suspects Ojukwu was arrested over a certain investigative story he reported in November 2023.
Ojukwu’s report targeted the office of the senior special assistant to the president on sustainable development goals (OSSAP-SDGs).
His report detailed how they awarded a contract for the construction of one skill acquisition centre and one block of six classrooms at Ajeromi Primary School in Lagos at the cost of 147 million Naira.
According to the report, the contract funds were paid into the “account of a restaurant,” while the project was not situated in its designated location.
Release Ojukwu
The report revealed that the skill acquisition centre was constructed in Ladi-Lak Nursery and Primary School on 2, Randle Road, Apapa, and the block of six classrooms in Metropolitan Nursery and Primary School, Adekunle Deen Street, Off Mile 2-Ijora Expressway, Ijora.
Also Read: Whistleblowers Condemn Detention Of Investigative Journalist Daniel Ojukwu By Police
Many individuals and groups have called for the unconditional release of Ojukwu.
Now you understand how Nigeria can happen to you.
This development has sparked outrage with numerous questions hovering over it.
