The Fourth Estate Professional Society (FPS), Thursday, joined its voice to that of other aggrieved professional colleagues in the pen profession, calling on the military and other security agencies to stop incessant arrest and harassment of its colleagues.
It specially called on the country’s security agencies to “Let the Press breathe”.
The call was against the backdrop of alleged abduction of the Editor of FirstNews, Mr Segun Olatunji, who was finally released some 24 hours ago by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Abuja, after spending 14 days in their custody.
The International Press Institute (IPI), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) were at the forefront, clamouring for his release from the military dungeon.
In a signed statement made available to Blueprint by FPS Chairman Abuja Chapter Chairman, Comrade Kehinde Osasona and Secretary, Emmanuel Ekwe on Thursday, FPS cautioned the military against arbitrary arrest, saying they should let the press breathe.
It reads; “The unjust abduction of Mr Segun Olatunji, Editor of FirstNews came to us as shock and a sad reminder of the military era.
“We make bold to state at this juncture that freedom of the press is like oxygen; and is essential for any democracy to thrive globally.
‘The military and other security agencies should allow the press to breathe and stop gagging them in the line of duty.”
The body thereafter hailed members of the Fourth estate of the realm for displaying solidarity and the push until Olatunji was released.
