Journalist Held Incommunicado by Police in Lagos

Journalist Held Incommunicado by Police in Lagos

Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has reportedly been abducted and is currently being detained by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti, Lagos.

Ojukwu was last seen on Wednesday, May 1, and soon after, all contact with him ceased as his mobile devices were turned off. Concerns grew among his colleagues, friends, and family when he could not be reached or located.

FIJ filed a missing person report on Thursday after Ojukwu failed to return from an assignment. By Friday, a private detective hired by FIJ traced the last known activity of his mobile phones to Isheri Olofin, a clue which led the organization to believe that it was the location where Ojukwu was apprehended by police.

Family members have confirmed Ojukwu’s detention at the SCID Panti facility, revealing that the authorities are accusing him of breaching the 2015 Cybercrime Act. Attempts by his family to get more information were thwarted as police withheld contact details of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) citing jurisdictional reasons, and indicated plans to transfer him and other detainees to Abuja for further processing.

As of now, Ojukwu has been denied access to legal representation, and it is unclear when he will be allowed to speak with a lawyer or be formally charged. The situation raises serious concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists in Nigeria.

POLICE ABDUCTION COINCIDES WITH WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

In a stark violation of the principles celebrated on World Press Freedom Day, Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was reportedly abducted by the police. World Press Freedom Day, designated by the United Nations to highlight the essential role of press freedom and to remind governments of their obligation to uphold free expression as guaranteed under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ironically marked the day when details of Ojukwu’s detention came to light.

Last year on this same day, Ojukwu faced arrest by Area F Police in Lagos for intervening as officers physically assaulted a driver.

CONTINUED TARGETING OF FIJ BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

The circumstances surrounding Ojukwu’s recent abduction remain unclear, as police have yet to officially disclose the reasons. However, this incident follows a pattern of scrutiny directed at FIJ by authorities. In March, during an interrogation of Bukky Shonibare, FIJ’s Board of Trustees chairman, by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), references were made to an investigative report by FIJ about questionable financial transactions involving a senior government official.

Shortly afterward, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Ademuyiwa Adejobi hinted during an interview on the ‘Politics Today’ program on Channels TV, at “two or three weighty allegations” against FIJ and its founder, ‘Fisayo Soyombo, related to their investigative reporting. Although Adejobi clarified that Soyombo was not yet declared wanted, he mentioned a forthcoming police invitation intended to address these publications.

Despite this declared intent to formally invite FIJ representatives for questioning, Shonibare confirmed that no such invitations have been extended to date. This ongoing lack of formal communication and the recent abduction of Ojukwu on such a symbolic day cast a long shadow on press freedom in Nigeria.