The publisher and editor-in-chief of Globalupfront Newspapers, Madu Onuorah, who was forcibly taken from his residence in Lugbe, Abuja, by policemen on Wednesday, has been released.
His release was confirmed by the management of Globalupfront Newspapers in a statement issued on Friday.
The management disclosed that Onuorah was released on bail late Thursday night by the Enugu State Police Command.
The statement read, “We have confirmed the release (on bail) of our Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Madu Onuorah, who was abducted by men of the Ebonyi Police Command on Wednesday 22/5/2024 evening from his residence in Lugbe, Abuja.
“He was released late Thursday, 23/5/2024, night by Enugu State Police Command, who requested the Ebonyi Police to abduct him for them.
We are awaiting a full briefing by Mr Onuorah and our lawyers before issuing a full statement on this matter and the next line of action.”
The statement continued, “We solidly stand by our Editor-in-Chief and the harmless story we published.
We insist the police station is not a court of law where alleged defamation cases are tried.
We want to thank the Journalism and Media family, friends and well-wishers, and all defenders of freedom of expression who rose against a budding tyranny.”
Onuorah was abducted at about 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the presence of his wife and children.
Eyewitness accounts and information gathered indicate that about 10 fully-armed policemen stormed his residence in two Sienna buses, taking him away without presenting a warrant of arrest.
He remained incommunicado, unable to contact his family, lawyer, or workplace, until his release.
His abduction is the latest in a series of alarming incidents involving journalists.
Barely 21 days prior, Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, was also abducted by the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police.
Ojukwu was initially held at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, in Lagos State, and later transferred to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja.
The abductions of Onuorah and Ojukwu highlight growing concerns over the treatment of journalists in Nigeria.
The Globalupfront Newspapers’ management emphasized the importance of protecting freedom of expression and holding authorities accountable for their actions.
