Nigerians have risen in one voice to condemn Thursday’s arrest of Premium Times publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi, and judicial correspondent, Josephine Okakwu, by the police.
The men in black stormed the online newspaper’s Abuja head office shortly after 5pm claiming they were acting on a complaint filed by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai.
The arrests came days after Premium Times turned down the army’s demand to retract news stories about the Nigerian Army and its operations.
Olorunyomi and Okakwu were released on bail around late on Thursday night but directed to report at the FCT Police Command Headquarters by 8am the next day in what is believed to be a ploy to detain them for an extended period.
We are happy to announce that both @DapsyOly and @EveOkakwu have been released on bail. #FreeDapo #PressFreedom pic.twitter.com/z3v7Tgu3lj
— Premium Times (@PremiumTimesng) January 19, 2017
Premium Times quotes a police source as saying there are chances that the two could be taken before a Magistrate’s Court.
“From what I understand, if they report tomorrow morning, they will be taken to a Magistrate’s Court and arraigned before a judge that will readily comply with the police arrangement and grant order for them to be detained,” the source said. “That way, they can then claim to be detaining them legally.”
In a statement the paper’s Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, condemned the raid saying: “They should stop deluding themselves that they can muzzle the press and intimidate Premium Times.
“They should know that our loyalty lies with our readers and the Nigerian people who have a right to know.”
Faulting the action of the police, Mojeed vowed that the paper will continue “to discharge its responsibilities in line with global best practices and patriotism, even at great risk to our personal liberties.”
Human Rights group, Amnesty International, described news of the arrest as disturbing
“We have received disturbing reports that Nigerian security operatives have raided office of Premium Times and arrested two staff,” the group said in a message on Twitter.
“Reasons for this arrest are not yet known but we are calling on Nigerian security to release Dapo Olorunyomi and Evelyn Okakwu.
“Nigerian security should ensure that they release Dapo Olorunyomi and Evelyn Okakwu or charge them to court immediately.
“We are calling on the authorities to ensure that the two journalists are granted access to their lawyers and families.
“Amnesty international will investigate the circumstances of this raid and the arrests of the journalists.”
National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Waheed Odusile, described the raid and the arrest as an act of intimidation and bad omen for practice of journalism in the country.
He said that was not the best way to treat any infraction if there was any at all.
“Was he ever invited by the police and he failed to turn up?” Odusile queried.
Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, speaking through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin said: “We should not give the impression that Nigeria is becoming a police state.
“If journalists publish things that are not true, there are civil ways of dealing with such.
“Olorunyomi and colleague should be released immediately and there should be an end to this Gestapo operation.”
Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central at the National Assembly, said “The raid on the Premium Times and the increasing cases of attacks on the media is worrisome and condemnable.”
The raid on the Premium Times and the increasing cases of attacks on the media is worrisome and condemnable.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@shehusani) January 19, 2017
Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, wrote “I condemn in its entirety the arrest of Dapo Olorunyomi of Premium Times and the attempt to muzzle the media by the government.”
I condemn in its entirety the arrest of Dapo Olorunyomi of Premium Times and the attempt to muzzle the media by the government.
— Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) January 19, 2017
Former spokesman for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan called on the government to “stop making Nigeria uncomfortable for bright persons.”
Dapsy is one of our best + brightest. Stop making Nigeria uncomfortable for bright persons. Release him and his editors now! @NGPoliceForce https://t.co/3CmS82tqaP
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) January 19, 2017
Others condemned the arrest using hashtags like #FreeDapoOlorunyomi, #FreeEvelynOkakwu and #PressFreedom.
@abati1990 Bright, courageous, unfailingly decent. #FreeDapoOlorunyomi
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) January 19, 2017
Hmm #FreeDapoOlorunyomi #FreeEvelynOkakwu of @PremiumTimesng, @PremiumTimesDC. #PressFreedom remains a right in #Nigeria.
— Toyin Akinniyi (@teewai_toyin) January 19, 2017
Buratai should channel his aggression @d killer herdsmen and not the press. #freeDapoOlorunyomi #freeEvelynOkakwu #freepress
— Wilson O. Ozobu (@ObiayoWil) January 19, 2017
#Freedapoolorunyomi : instead of raiding media houses I believe government should go to court to see redress insteadof arrest @Gidi_Traffic
— Eyes4news (@sparklighto) January 19, 2017
Nigeria will never become a close society; #freepress &democracy wil thrive. #premiumtimes #freedapsy #freeevelyn @DapsyOly @PremiumTimesng pic.twitter.com/1ZyznN5bbS
— Hassan Adebayo (@Hazzanjustice) January 19, 2017
If indeed Buratai ordered Dapo Olorunyomi’s arrest, then I don’t know what he’s thinking. General Sani Abacha could not cow Dapo Olorunyomi
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) January 19, 2017
