Olatunji, a former Kaduna State correspondent of The PUNCH, was reportedly kidnapped on Friday by gunmen from his home in the Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of the state.
In a statement on Saturday, the management of the online newspaper linked the action to a recent story published by FirstNews titled, “Revealed: “Defence Chief running office like family business – Public Interest Lawyers”, published by many other online platforms.
The management also linked his abduction to another report titled, “EXCLUSIVE: How contractor, company stole N100bn, laundered funds for top govt officials – Investigation”, which was later pulled down.
The incident has caused panic among the members of staff of the newspaper, the management said.
Olatunji’s wife was quoted as saying that the armed men numbering 10 arrived at their residence, a few minutes after 6 pm, and whisked her husband away.
She said her husband’s abductors reached for his phone and seized it immediately after they arrived before bundling him into a van.
she added that efforts to know his offence or where they were taking him to were rebuffed by the stern-looking men.
“Some armed men dressed in military uniform totaling 10 (two in uniform and the remaining eight 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.
“They refused to state his offence and where they were taking him to despite all the efforts to make them do so,” she said.
The Publisher of FirstNews, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, who also confirmed the incident, said there has been no trace of Olatunji, as his phone line has been switched, neither has anyone reached the family or the management of FirstNews to disclose the real reason behind his abduction.
While condemning Olatunji’s abduction, Iworiso-Markson stated that he was never invited formally to answer any question.
He said, “The management of FirstNews is using this opportunity to call on the military high command and the security agencies to let us know his whereabouts and the reason why he was arrested.
“FirstNews (online and 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 bothers on national security, Olatunji should have first been formally invited rather than this Gestapo style of arrest that reminds is of the dark days of the military era, where press freedom was stifled.”
Effort to speak to the Assistant Director of Public Relations at the 9 Brigade of Nigerian Army, Major Augustine Kolawole Bello, proved abortive as he did not take his call
He has yet to respond to the text message forwarded to his number as of the time of filling this report.
