The Editor of FirstNews, an online newspaper, Mr. Segun Olatunji, has been abducted by gunmen dressed in military uniform.
The abduction was carried out on Thursday at the residence of the journalist at Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos State.
The abduction was announced in a statement by the management of FirstNews on Saturday.
The management said the abduction might not be unconnected with a recent story published by FirstNews titled, “Revealed: “Defence Chief running office like family business – Public Interest Lawyers”, and another story with the headline, “EXCLUSIVE: How contractor, company stole N100bn, laundered funds for top govt officials – Investigation”.
The second story was said to have already been pulled down.
The management of the newspapers quoted the journalist’s wife, Abiodun Olatunji, as saying the armed men were ten.
According to her, they arrived their residence at about 6 p.m. and abducted him.
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They, however, did not state what his offence was and where he was being taken to.
He words: “Some armed men dressed in military uniform totalling ten in number (two in uniform and the remaining 8 in mufti but all armed) arrived at our residence at Dauda Oriyomi Street, Iyana Odo, along Joke Ayo in Abule Egba area of Lagos State and took away my husband.”
She added: “They refused to state his offence and where they were taking him to despite all the efforts to make them do so.”
The publisher of the online newspaper, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said Olatunji had been unreachable as his phone line had been switched off.
Said he: “The management of FirstNews is using this opportunity to call on the military high command and the security agencies to let us know his whereabout and the reason why he was arrested.
“FirstNews (online & print) is a reputable independent digital news network that prides itself on being a frontline media outfit committed to engaging her world-class audience with factual, authentic, and credible information.
“We conduct our journalism activities with strict observance of the high standards of ethics, accountability, professionalism and legality, while exercising our rights to freedom of expression and information, all in a bid to ensure credible reporting of the news behind the news in Politics, Business, Education, Sport, Health, Entertainment and many more.
“If there was any infraction that borders on national security, Olatunji should have first been formally invited rather that this gestapo style of arrest that reminds one of the dark days of the military era, where press freedom was stifled.”
