While workers in Nigeria were busy celebrating the Workers’ Day the police were busy planning how they will arrest an investigative journalist, Daniel Ojukwu.
When the evening of the day of commemoration came, Daneil did not return home.
Days have passed since he was taken by men identified as police somewhere in Lagos.
Now, the Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) is concerned about the reported arrest and continued detention of Mr. Daniel Ojukwu.
Daniel is a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
Police claim he violated the 2015 Cybercrime Act.
According to a report by the FIJ, Mr Ojukwu was abducted by the police on Wednesday, May 1.
The CWPPF says his phones have since been switched off and whereabouts undisclosed.
His family only got wind of his whereabouts on Friday, May 3, 2024.
They were told that he was at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti in Lagos.
Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Lagos state Police Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin, has confirmed the arrest.
He made the confirmation in a phone conversation with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
He said that Mr. Ojukwu was arrested by men of the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC) of the Nigerian Police.
According to Hundeyin, Daniel Ojukwu is detained at the facilities of the Lagos state Police Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti.
Criminalising Journalists
In a statement, CWPPF condemned the arrest and continued detention of Mr. Ojukwu.
“Arbitrary arrest and detention of journalists remain unacceptable as it negates the basic principles of democracy.
“The arrest and continued detention of Mr Ojukwu is not only a violation of his fundamental human rights but also an assault on press freedom.
“We call on the Nigerian police to immediately release Mr. Daniel Ojukwu and follow legal procedures to engage him.
“We also call on the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the Cybercrime act 2015 ceases to be a weapon used in the harassment and arbitrarily detainment of journalists and media workers,” the statement read.
Furthermore, the organisation highlights that there were past instances where the Cybercrime law has been used to criminalise journalists.
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Also, these journalists have been harassed and detained, hanging their arrest on violation of criminal law.
“We reiterate that such intimidation constitutes an attack on press freedom and the right of the people to information.
“The Nigerian Police in this instance must therefore avoid using the Cybercrimes Act to suppress investigative journalism aimed at entrenching a transparent and accountable system.
“Journalism plays a critical role in democracy, and such actions are bound to undermine its core principles,” the statement signed by the Deputy Director of the CJID, Busola Ajibola, read.
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