The International Press Centre (IPC) has condemned the arrest and detention of the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council, Olalekan Akindoju, by police officers in Osogbo, describing the incident as unlawful and a threat to press freedom.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Press Freedom Officer, Melody Akinjiyan, through the Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub, the IPC called on the Nigeria Police Force to apologise to Akindoju and launch a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
According to the organisation, Akindoju was arrested at his residence in Osogbo in the early hours of Thursday, June 11, when police operatives reportedly stormed his home.
Speaking in a telephone interview with the IPC-SPJ Hub, the journalist said the officers arrived at about 6 a.m., arrested him and confiscated his mobile phone without providing any clear explanation.
“They invaded my residence around 6 a.m., arrested me and seized my phone without any valid explanation. All attempts to identify myself as a journalist failed, as they refused to listen to me or allow me contact anyone,” Akindoju said.
He disclosed that he spent nearly five hours in detention before regaining his freedom following interventions by colleagues and the NUJ.
“I was detained for almost five hours before I was released after the intervention of colleagues and the NUJ. The police claimed it was a case of mistaken identity,” he added.
Reacting to the incident, IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, criticised the conduct of the officers involved and urged security agencies to exercise greater diligence before carrying out arrests, particularly those involving journalists.
“This incident is highly condemnable, and the police must do due diligence in gathering intelligence and information before initiating arrests, especially as it pertains to journalists,” Arogundade said.
The SPJ Hub reiterated the need to protect journalists from harassment, intimidation and unlawful detention, stressing that press freedom remains essential to democratic governance.
The organisation also called on the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the incident and impose appropriate disciplinary measures on any officers found responsible.
IPC further urged law enforcement agencies to respect the rights of media practitioners and create an enabling environment for journalists to carry out their duties without fear of intimidation or unlawful interference.
