The International Press Centre (IPC) has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of Olalekan Akindoju, the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council. ​
Describing the incident as an “unlawful act,” the media rights organization warned that the development raises fresh, alarming concerns regarding press freedom and the ongoing harassment of media practitioners across Nigeria.
​The condemnation was made public through a statement issued by the IPC’s Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub. ​In addition to denouncing the arrest, the SPJ Hub has directly called on the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force to take immediate corrective action.
The IPC is demanding an official apology from the police hierarchy to Mr. Akindoju for his unlawful detention and a thorough investigation: An immediate internal probe into the conduct of the specific officers involved in the operation. ​The incident adds to a troubling pattern of confrontations between security agencies and media personnel in Nigeria.
Rights groups have frequently pointed out that journalists are increasingly targeted while carrying out their constitutional duties. ​”The unlawful arrest of a union official like Akindoju sends a chilling message to the entire press community,” the IPC noted, emphasizing that the safety of journalists must be guaranteed to protect the country’s democracy.
​As of the time of this report, the Osun State Police Command has not released an official statement regarding the operational grounds for Akindoju’s arrest or the demands made by the IPC.
