The Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Globalupfront Newspaper (Online), Mr. Madu Onuorah on Wednesday was whisked away by men of the Nigerian Police Force at 6:00 pm.
About ten fully armed policemen stormed his residence in Lugbe, Abuja, in two Sienna buses, eyewitnesses said.
He was arrested in the presence of his wife and children who fruitlessly demanded from the police why they were arresting the head of the family.
The police have seized Mr. Onuorah’s phones, thereby completely cutting him off from communication with people, including his family members.
He was not even allowed to contact his lawyer or any of his relations before he was whisked away to the Lugbe police station by the stern-looking operatives.
To make sure Mr. Onuorah did not get attention or bail, the policemen who arrested him, though not from the Lugbe Police Station, simply dumped him at the Station and left no traces for friends and family members to reach them.
The Management of Globalupfront Newspapers in a statement called on the Police should to release Onuorah immediately and unconditionally.
Onuorah is an experienced Journalist and former Abuja Bureau Chief of The Guardian Newspaper, former Managing-Director of The Authority Newspaper.
They noted that anybody who has any issue against Mr. Onuorah should approach the law court and not turn the Nigerian Police to bully a man in the presence of his wife and children.
Globalupfront Newspapers said that any second Onuorah spends in police custody constitutes a serious infringement against his fundamental rights and a continuation of the assault on freedom of expression that has become a frequent occurrence in Nigeria.
Confirming the arrest, spokesman of Ebony State Police Command, DSP Joshua Ukandu noted that: “our men assisted in arresting him based on a petition from Enugu command. I don’t know the details of the petition, but they are taking him to Enugu now. I am sure Enugu command would be able to give you details of why he was arrested.”
