IPC Slams Arrest of Osun NUJ Secretary, Demands Police Apology

The International Press Centre (IPC), through its Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub, has strongly 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.

In a statement issued on Friday by the organisation’s Press Freedom Officer, Melody Akinjiyan, IPC described the incident as unlawful and called on the Nigeria Police Force to apologise to the journalist while conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
According to IPC, Akindoju was arrested at his residence in Osogbo on Thursday, June 11, after police operatives reportedly arrived at his home in the early hours of the morning.
Speaking during a telephone interview with the Press Freedom Officer of the IPC-SPJ Hub, Akindoju recounted that the incident occurred around 6 a.m.
“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,” he said.
Akindoju further revealed that he was held in detention for nearly five hours 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 development, IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, condemned the actions of the officers involved and urged security agencies to exercise greater caution when carrying out arrests, especially 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 stated.
The SPJ Hub reiterated the importance of safeguarding press freedom and protecting journalists from harassment, intimidation, and unlawful arrest.
The organisation also called on the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Ibrahim Gotan, to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the matter and take appropriate disciplinary action against any officers found culpable.
IPC further urged police authorities to respect the rights of journalists and create an environment that allows media practitioners to carry out their professional duties without fear of intimidation or unlawful interference.