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Protesters Storm Police Headquarters, Demand Journalist Ojukwu’s Release
Journalists and concerned citizens have stormed the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, in a protest, demanding the immediate release of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism.
Ojukwu was clandestinely abducted by the police in Lagos on May 1 and transferred to Abuja about three days later.
The ongoing protest at the NPF headquarters in Abuja followed the continuous detention of Ojukwu for 10 days as well as the silence of the police authority on the matter.
Prominent Nigerians including human rights activists and conveners of, the #RevolutionNow movement Omoyele Sowore, Bukola Shonibare, and other media practitioners led the protest at the entrance of the police complex.
Operatives of the Nigerian police had, on May 1, clandestinely “abducted” Ojukwu; his phone lines were switched off while he was detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos.
The FIJ reported a missing person to the police on May 2, and until it hired a private detective to track the reporter’s last active location on his phone, both the media organisation and his relative did not get wind of his whereabouts.
Ojukwu remained in detention from May 1 to May 5, before being given access to his phones.
He was subsequently transferred by the Intelligence Response Team to Abuja, where he was detained in a cell at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, and later to the FCID.
The media organisation during this period, discovered the reporter was picked up for violating the Cyber-Crime Act of 2015, while the Nigeria Police Force remained mum on the matter.
However, the spokesperson of the police, Muyiwa Adejobi, hinted that his detention was connected to a written petition against the reporter.
In October 2023, Ojukwu reported how the then Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals to the President, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire paid N147.1 million to an account traced to Enseno Global Ventures, an Abuja-based restaurant, for the construction of classrooms.
The FIJ said it suspected the above report was the reason for his detention, hence, republished the investigation on Sunday.
The Founder and Publisher of FIH, Fisayo Soyombo, had said the investigation was a representation of the facts and not mere allegations, based on the violation of the Cybercrime Act for which Ojukwu is being accused.
Soyombo also questioned the matter of his ‘arrest’, noting that no invitation was extended to the organisation, particularly on this matter.
He berated the Nigeria Police for its silence on the matter, insisting that its operatives had abducted and not arrested the journalist.
The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.
The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.
Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee
highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.
“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.
Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.
The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.
