Akwa Ibom journalists and the state Police Command may tread collision path over alleged attempt to intimidate and abduct the Editor of The Mail Newspaper, Comrade Ifreke Nseowo.
Nseowo wanted in respect of unnamed publication is said to have been freed by Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom with a promise to produce him at the police headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia in Uyo Local Government Area on Tuesday, August 16 at 11 a.m.
In a press release of August 13 by Comrade Amos Etuk , the state Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom Council and Comrade Dominic Akpan, the state Secretary, the union said Nsewo had received a call from a lady, who asked him to come for an advertorial, but he (Nsewo) directed her to Ngadiubia.
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The policemen, it was reported, arrested the newspaper distributor, Mr. Chidi Ngadiubia, on Friday, August 12, 2022, in place of Comrade Nsewo.
The union noted ‘‘While the NUJ is not against the Police arresting any member of the Union who has contravened the law, it is quick to point out that it must follow due process of the law,’’ the release stated.
According to the release, ‘‘In the case of the current plot to arrest Nseowo, the Union insists that the right thing would be to invite him to the Police station, where he would be informed of the allegations against him, instead of the crude tactics of arresting Ndagiubia, in lieu of Nseowo.
‘‘However, the Union insists that if the plot to arrest Nseowo is connected to any story published in his newspaper, the aggrieved party should seek a redress in Court. If the publication has criminal contents, Nseowo should be invited, instead of the frantic attempts to take him into custody like a common criminal.’’
The Union, therefore, assured journalists in the State of protection from harassment in the line duty at all times.
Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom Police Command released Ndagiuba Saturday evening, August 13.
