The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has called for the immediate release of Okechukwu Nnodim, a correspondent with the Punch Newspapers.
On its part, the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) also condemned the kidnapping of The Punch newspaper correspondent, Mr. Okechukwu Nnodim, on February 3 and called on the Federal Government and security agencies to take urgent action to locate and free him from his abductors.
Nnodim was allegedly kidnapped by four gunmen in his Abuja home who gained access to his residence by scaling his fence after firing several gunshots in the air.
In a press statement released by the NUJ council Friday, jointly signed by Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche and Ochiaka Ugwu, chairman and secretary, condemns the heinous act in totality and calls for the unconditional release of Nnodim for him to be reunited with his family and colleagues.
According to the statement, “It is unacceptable that a journalist is abducted and held for whatever reason. A fundamental pre-requisite for a free media is that journalists be allowed to move freely in their efforts to gather and transmit information.
“While condemning this heinous act in strong terms, we urge the kidnappers to release the journalist immediately, and charge the security agencies to do all they can to ensure that Nnodim and all those held by kidnappers and bandits are rescued while the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“It is time journalists stop being endangered species for doing their constitutional duties. It is unfortunate that other forms of harassment against the press are becoming frequent.
“It is worrying that journalists have been assaulted while covering events and several others have reported receiving threats over their work.
“As a council, we demand that immediate steps be taken to arrest this ugly development so that journalists can fulfill their constitutional mandate unhindered.
Condemning the kidnap, MRA noted in a statement by its Programme Director, Mr. Ayode Longe, that although the reasons for the abduction of Mr. Nnodim and the two others by the gunmen were still unknown, since they are citizens and under the jurisdiction of Nigeria, the government, its law enforcement and security agencies have a duty to investigate the crime and bring perpetrators to justice.
Mr. Longe said: “Security and law enforcement agencies in Nigeria need to wake up from their slumber as the level of insecurity of lives and property of Nigerians, and other residents in the country has now reached unacceptable proportions and those responsible for ensuring their security appears unable to rise to the occasion.”
He noted that “in the last few years, journalists have been kidnapped in their homes, on their way to work or from work with no effective response from the law enforcement and security agencies, with most people consumed by the fear that it is likely to be their turn at anytime and feeling helpless to do anything about the situation.”
According to Mr. Longe, in 2020, MRA documented several cases of journalists kidnapped either from their homes or while returning from work, such as Mr. Maxwell Nashian, a journalist with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), was kidnapped from his home in Adamawa state in January 2020 and later died in the hospital after his release; and Chinenye Iwuoha, another journalist with the FRCN who was kidnapped in Umuahia, the Abia state capital on May 6, 2020 while returning from work.
He also recalled the case of Mr. Mienpamo Saint, a news blogger and owner of Naijalivetv.com, who was abducted on May 9, 2020 from his home at INEC Road in Kpansia, a suburb of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State by masked gunmen; and Mrs. Chinyere Okoye, an Assistant Manager of News and Current Affairs at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Channel 6 Aba, who was abducted by unknown gunmen in front of her house at Obikabia Road in Aba, Abia State on May 27, 2020, while she was returning from her office.
Mr. Longe noted that incidents of kidnapping of journalists and other citizens have become too rampant, and a real cause of concern that requires urgent and concerted action.
He reminded the government that it has a duty to ensure the safety of lives and property of Nigerians, stressing that it must not shirk that responsibility as it derives its legitimacy from them.
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