Police Abduct FIJ Reporter, Daniel Ojukwu For Allegedly Violating The Cybercrime Act

A dedicated journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Daniel Ojukwu, has been forcefully taken by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police and is currently being held against his will at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti in Lagos.

A report by FIJ revealed that Ojukwu went missing on Wednesday, May 1, with his numbers switched off. His whereabouts were unknown to colleagues, family, and friends.

Ojukwu was immediately reported missing at the police stations where he was last seen. However, on Friday, a private detective hired by FIJ tracked the last active location of his phones to an address in Isheri Olofin, where they believed he was abducted.

His family learned he was detained at Panti and swiftly rushed to the station. However, the authorities declined to reveal the contact details of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) on jurisdictional grounds as the case was beyond Lagos, the FIJ said.

“The arresting officers are part of the IG Monitoring Team. They said they will transfer him and others to Abuja when they arrest the other people on their watchlist in Lagos.”

Ojukwu has not been allowed access to his lawyers three days after his abduction. He is being detained for allegedly violating the 2015 Cybercrime Act in a November 2023 report.

The FIJ learned about Ojukwu’s abduction today, World Press Freedom Day. Ironically, he was also arrested precisely a year ago by men of the Area F Police in Lagos for asking them to stop punching a driver. 

These indicate a need for more government commitment to upholding press freedom in Nigeria. 

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Kangmwa Gofwen

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