Worried over the continuous disappearance of its editor, Segun Olatunji, the management of FirstNews Media organisation has written formally to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Chris Musa, demanding to know the whereabouts of the Lagos based journalist.
Earlier, the Explainer reported how Olatunji’s family members and colleagues raised an alarm after he was abducted from his house in Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos state by gunmen on Friday evening, March 15.
“They refused to state his offence and where they were taking him to despite all the efforts to make them do so,” his wife, Abiodun Olatunji said.
In the letter titled “Arrest and Detention of Mr Segun Olatunji, Editor FirstNews” and signed by the Publisher, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the news outfit among other things appealed to the Chief of Defence Staff, to help them ascertain the exact location of the editor.
The letter also narrated how Olatunji was whisked away and the initial alarm raised about him being abducted based on the account of his wife who was the prime eyewitness of the incident.
FirstNews Media organisation also used the letter to commiserate with the military over the gruesome killings of its officers and soldiers in Okuama, Delta State.
Parts of the letter read; “As a responsible and law abiding media organization, we are requesting that you help us ascertain the whereabouts of our editor, if truly he is in your custody, grant his family, doctor and lawyers access to him, make known to us his offence, if he had committed one and charge him to court if the offence is grievous, so he can have the opportunity to defend himself”, the letter read in part.
It read: “On Friday 15th March 2024, the wife of our editor, Segun Olatunji contacted us over a strange development. In the account of the story narrated by her, some armed men, numbering ten, (two in military uniform), stormed their residence at No. 12, Dauda Oriyomi street, Iyana Odo along Joke Ayo in Abule Egba area of Lagos State and whisked him away.
“Not stating the reason for their actions and where they were taking him to, it was emotionally conjectured that it was a case of abduction by the military.
“This prompted the initial alarm that Segun Olatunji had been abducted. Thus, many media outlets published the story of his abduction by the military. This was aimed at drawing the attention of security agencies and the government to act swiftly.
“However, days after the incident and with no information from those behind his abduction, we were left with no choice but to request his family to lodge a formal complaint to the Police in order for them to commence thorough investigation into the incident. We also reached out to the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to weigh in and demand for the release of our editor.
“As at the time of writing this letter, the whereabouts of Segun Olatunji is still unknown, thus putting his family in great discomfort, especially as regards his safety and health conditions as an ulcer and asthmatic patient.”
