Osun CP Apologises Over Unlawful Arrest of NUJ Secretary
The Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Ibrahim Gotan, has issued a public apology to the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council, Lekan Akindoju, over his unlawful arrest and detention by operatives of the command.
Gotan also said investigations have commenced to identify and sanction the officers involved in the incident, vowing that those responsible would be exposed and brought to book.
The apology comes about a week after armed officers reportedly from the Prompt Response Unit of the state command stormed Akindoju’s residence in Osogbo, where he was allegedly harassed, handcuffed and taken away without justification.
Akindoju, an editor with Rave FM, said he was arrested at about 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 11, in a traumatic operation, before being released about five hours later following interventions from stakeholders.
He alleged that the officers later admitted he was arrested “mistakenly” after subjecting him to intimidation at gunpoint.
According to him, a neighbour arrested alongside him was made to pay N77,000 as bail before being released.
The development sparked outrage from the NUJ and other stakeholders, who condemned the arrest and demanded that the police identify and discipline the officers involved, as well as recover the alleged extorted money.
They also called for a public apology from the police over what they described as unwarranted harassment of a journalist.
Speaking on a television programme on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abiodun Ojelabi, apologised to Akindoju, the Osun NUJ and residents of the state.
“In the name of the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, CP Ibrahim Gotan, I want to beg the Osun NUJ Secretary, all citizens of Osun State, and all Journalists, not to be angry over the incidents. The CP asked me to say this. We are investigating the officers who carried out the acts,” Ojelabi said.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
