The management of Global Upfront online newspaper has raised alarm over the alleged abduction of its Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Madu Onuorah, by officer of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The organisation in a press statement titled: Police Abduct Another Editor in Abuja, Thursday disclosed that he was arrested by some policemen Wednesday at about 6pm in his home in the presence of his wife, children and without showing a warrant for his arrest, nor disclosing his offence.
“Nigerian journalism once again came under attack on Wednesday, 22/5/2024 as the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Globalupfront Newspaper (Online), Mr. Madu Onuorah was whisked away by men of the Nigerian Police Force at about 6pm.
“About ten fully-armed policemen stormed his residence in Lugbe, Abuja, in two Sienna buses. He was arrested in the presence of his wife and children who fruitlessly demanded from the police why they were arresting the head of the family.
“The police have seized Mr. Onuorah’s phones, thereby completely cutting him off from communication with people, including his family members.
“He was not even allowed to contact his lawyer or any of his relations before he was whisked away to the Lugbe police station by the stern looking operatives.
“To make sure Mr. Onuorah did not get attention or bail, the policemen who arrested him, though not of the Lugbe Police Station, simply dumped him at the station and left no traces for friends and family members to reach them,” the statement read in part.
The management of Globalupfront Newspapers demanded that, “That the Police should release Mr. Madu Onuorah immediately and unconditionally.”
The statement noted that, “Mr. Onuorah is an experienced journalist, former Abuja Bureau Chief of The Guardian Newspaper, former Managing-Director of The AUTHORITY Newspaper, who operates within the ambit of the law.
“That anybody who has any issue against Mr. Onuorah should approach the law court and not turn the Nigerian Police into a Gestapo outfit that bullies a man in the presence of his wife and children.”
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, could not be reached for comment at the time of filling this report.
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