Gunmen suspected to be soldiers have abducted the Editor of FirstNews, Segun Olatunji, at his Iyana Odo, Abule Egba, home, in Lagos State.
Olatunji, a former Kaduna Bureau Chief of The PUNCH, was said to have been picked over a recent story published on his online platform, titled: “Revealed: Defence Chief Running Office like Family Business – Public Interest Lawyers.’’
The incident was said to have taken place last Friday.
According to the management of the online medium, his abduction could also be linked to another report titled, “Exclusive: How Contractor, Company Stole N100bn, Laundered Funds for Top Govt Officials – Investigation,” which was later pulled down.
The incident has thrown the staff of the newspaper into panic.
Narrating how the journalist was abducted, his wife, Abiodun Olatunji, said armed men numbering 10 arrived at their residence, a few minutes after 6pm and whisked him away without leaving any information behind as to where they were taking him to.
She said her husband’s abductors reached for his phone and seized it immediately they arrived before bundling him into a van like a criminal and zoomed off.
She further said efforts to know his offence or where they were taking him were rebuffed by the stern-looking men.
“Some armed men dressed in military uniform, numbering 10 in number (two in uniform and the remaining 8 in mufti but all armed) arrived at our residence at Dauda Oriyomi Street, Iyana Odo, along Joke Ayo in Abule Egba area of Lagos State and took away my husband.
“They refused to state his offence and where they were taken him to despite all the efforts to make them do so,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Publisher of FirstNews, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, who also confirmed the incident, said there has been no trace of Olatunji, adding that his phone line has been switched.
While condemning the manner Olatunji was whisked away, Iworiso-Markson stated that he was never invited formally for questioning over any national security issue.
Leave a Reply