NUJ, IPC Intervene as Police Tender Apology Over Osun Journalist’s Arrest

The Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and the International Press Centre, IPC, have secured an apology from the Osun State Police Command over the arrest and detention of the union’s secretary, Olalekan Akindoju.

The apology was given by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on a live programme on Rave 91.7FM on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Gotan.

DSP Ojelabi said the police command regretted the incident and had begun investigation into the conduct of the operatives involved in the operation.

The apology was also extended to Mr Akindoju, Osun NUJ, Rave 91.7FM/WSTV and the journalists in the state.

“We apologise to Mr Akindoju, the NUJ, Rave 91.7FM/WSTV and the whole journalism profession over the unlawful detention. Ojelabi said the officers involved were already under investigation.

The apology came on the heels of widespread reactions to the arrest of Akindoju, who is also the head of News and Current Affairs at Rave 91.7FM/WSTV.

Armed police operatives arrested him in his residence in Osogbo in the early hours of June 11.

Akindoju, who gave an account of the incident, said he was asleep when he heard unusual movements around his residence at about 6 a.m. “According He said some people had jumped the fence into his compound before identifying themselves as policemen.

He said the officers did not listen to his explanation that he was a journalist and did not pay attention to his official identity card and arrested him.

“I said I was a journalist and showed my identity card, but I was still arrested,” he recalled.

“They took my phone and identity card, handcuffed me and took me to the Osun State Police Command Headquarters, Osogbo where they detained me for several hours.

Eventually, after some intervention by colleagues, the NUJ and other interested parties, he was released.

The police later explained that the arrest was a case of mistaken identity during an operation targeting suspected criminals in the area.

Media organisations, civil society groups and advocates of press freedom have condemned the incident, with many describing the detention as a violation of journalists’ rights and professional freedom.

Reacting to the development, the Osun NUJ described the arrest as unacceptable and demanded a public apology from the Nigeria Police Force to Akindoju, his family, Rave 91.7FM/WSTV and the journalism profession for what it termed the embarrassment and reputational damage the incident caused.

Similarly, the IPC condemned the detention and called for efforts to protect journalists from harassment, intimidation and unlawful arrests, through its Safety and Protection of Journalists Hub, urging police authorities to ensure accountability for officers involved in the operation.