The International Press Institute, Nigeria, claims that the editor of FirstNews, Segun Olatunji, who was missing, is being held by the Defence Intelligence Agency.
The DIA is under the authority of Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, who reports to the Chief of Defence Staff.
The IPI, in a statement by its Nigeria's President, Musikilu Mojeed, on Wednesday, urged President Bola Tinubu to instruct General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, to produce Olatunji, who was abducted from his home in Lagos 12 days ago.
According to IPI Nigeria, the missing editor is in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency, which is led by Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, reporting to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa.
The statement highlighted that the abducted journalist has been kept incommunicado for the past 11 days, with no information about his whereabouts being shared with his family, employers, and colleagues.
IPI Nigeria stated that their efforts to obtain information about Olatunji and secure his release from the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Defence Intelligence Agency, Defence Headquarters, and Ministry of Information and National Orientation have all been unsuccessful.
The statement suggested that the Nigerian military may be withholding important information from the public about the journalist's safety, leading to speculation among journalists and human rights activists worldwide.
Therefore, IPI Nigeria called on President Tinubu to direct the Nigerian military authorities to promptly release Mr. Olatunji or bring charges against him if he has committed any offense. They also urged the international community to take notice of Mr. Olatunji's unjust detention by the Nigerian military.
The rule of law dictates that an accused person should have the opportunity to defend themselves in court within a reasonable time, in line with Nigeria's 1999 Constitution, which prohibits the detention of any citizen or resident for more than 48 hours without a valid court order.
According to reports, armed men in two unmarked vans arrived at Mr Olatunji's home in Lagos on March 15. Two of the men, dressed in military-style uniforms, identified themselves as Nigerian Army officers and forcibly took Mr. Olatunji with them, without disclosing his whereabouts to his wife, who witnessed the abduction.
The military should urgently provide an explanation for Mr. Olatunji's arrest, disclose his location, and clarify why he has not been charged in court.
IPI Nigeria emphasized that Nigeria continues to rank poorly in terms of upholding human rights, and detaining a citizen beyond the constitutional timeframe will further damage the country's reputation in the global community.
