Police Arrest Four Journalists In Delta

Police detectives have arrested four journalists including three members of the Warri Correspondents Chapel of the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The reason for the arrest of the journalists was not disclosed as the Police has not answered any inquiry.

The arrested journalists are Mr. Matthew Omonigho of the Daily Post Online, Mr Igafe Edeki of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Francis Sadhere of Business Day and Mr Christopher Odamah of National Reformer.

It was learnt that the Police operatives had stormed the Press Centre of the Warri NUJ along Gbiaye Street in Warri at about 4pm to pick Omonigho for undisclosed reasons.

Following Omonigho’s arrest, the leadership of the NUJ in Warri immediately dispatched Edeki, Sadhere and Christopher to visit the Warri Area Command ascertain the offence for which Omonigho was arrested.

On getting there, the officers detained the three journalists who had visited the station to clarify issues relating to the arrest of the Daily Post’s reporter.

The mobile sets of the four journalists were alleged to have been confiscated by the operatives.

It was gathered that the detective were from the Force Headquarters and had declined to give reasons for the arrest of the four journalists.

This is contrary to the position of Section 6(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 which says anyone arrested should be told the offence.

Meanwhile, the state NUJ council Chairman Mr. Michael Ikeogwu has frowned at how security operatives manhandle journalists in the state.