The family of Mr. Segun Olatunji, the abducted editor of FirstNews, has issued a heartfelt plea for his release, citing concerns over his health as he suffers from asthma. Olatunji, a former correspondent for The PUNCH in Kaduna State, was forcibly taken from his residence in Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos on Friday by ten armed individuals. His whereabouts remain unknown since the incident.
In an emotional interview with our correspondent, Mrs. Oluwatosin Olatunji, his wife and mother of their five children, highlighted her husband’s calm and dedicated nature as a journalist. She emphasized his lack of involvement in any form of trouble, his commitment to his work often keeping him occupied until late hours. Describing him as a non-partygoer and nondrinker, she appealed to the government and fellow Nigerians for assistance in securing his safe return, especially considering his health conditions, including asthma and ulcer. She expressed her profound distress and illness since his abduction, urging authorities to act swiftly and compassionately.
Likewise, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Olatunji, condemning his abduction as a severe infringement on press freedom. In a statement signed by the union’s Assistant National Secretary, Akorede Opeyemi, the NUJ underscored the perilous environment journalists face in the discharge of their duties. They called upon the government to safeguard press freedom and ensure the safety of media practitioners, denouncing such acts of intimidation and advocating for accountability.
FirstNews, through its platform, echoed these sentiments, urging the military high command and security agencies to clarify Olatunji’s whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding his arrest. Despite efforts to contact him, Olatunji’s phone remains unreachable, leaving both his family and the management of FirstNews in distressing uncertainty. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Publisher of FirstNews, expressed concern over the lack of communication from authorities regarding the reasons behind Olatunji’s abduction, urging for immediate resolution and his safe return.
