Concerns Mount Over Arrest Of Osun NUJ Secretary

Concern has continued to grow within media circles in Osun State following the reported arrest of the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Osun State Council, Olalekan Akindoju, by police officers in Osogbo, on Thursday morning.

The development was confirmed by the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Council, Adeyemi Aboderin in a post on the official Osun NUJ WhatsApp platform.

Aboderin said, “IMPORTANT NOTICE. Policemen reportedly arrested Hon.Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Osun State Council, Olalekan Akindoju at his residence on Thursday morning.

“His apartment was allegedly raided by policemen, and he was taken to the State CID, Osogbo. More details coming.

The Osun NUJ chairman, also said, “Yet to ascertain the reason. I have gotten in touch with the PPRO. Reason for arrest not yet ascertained.”

Also, Daniel Odeyemi, the Chairman of the Rave FM Chapel of the NUJ, where Akindoju is a member, also confirmed that police officers reportedly arrived at his residence and took him away.

He said, “Lekan called the Head of Station this morning and said police officers stormed his house and they are taking him to the state CID.”

Odeyemi also said the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Rave FM, Mr Femi Adefila, has gone to the Osun State Police Command headquarters on the matter.

He also added that the whereabouts of Akindoju was not yet known as authorities at the police command headquarters claim not to be in the know of his whereabouts.

Also, sources within the NUJ said Akindoju’s whereabouts were initially unknown following the arrest, while attempts to reach him by telephone proved unsuccessful.

In another update, the Osun NUJ chairman said, “UPDATE ON AKINDOJU’S. ARREST. We have been able to track him to the cells of Police PRU unit at the Police Headquarters.

“It was probably a case of mistaken identity.

We’re working on his immediate release.

Thanks for your concern.”

Efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Osun State Police Command were unsuccessful as of press time.

The police are yet to issue a statement explaining the circumstances that led to Akindoju’s arrest or confirming the reasons for his detention.