‘We don’t abduct journalists’, Military breaks silence on FirstNews Editor

Major-General Edward Buba, Director, Defence Media Operations, has said the military does not abduct journalists.

He said this at a press briefing at Defence Headquarters, on Thursday, while commenting on the plight of Segun Olatunji, Editor of FirstNews Online Newspaper.

Following intense pressure, the military authorities released the detained Editor , on Thursday,

Gunmen in military uniform had invaded Olatunji’s residence on March 15, 2024, and whisked him away.

A military officer, who confirmed Olatunji’s freedom to our correspondent, said he was released to the Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Iyobosa Uwugiaren of Thisday Newspapers and Yomi Odunuga of The Nation Newspapers in Abuja.

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At the Defence Headquarters briefing, Buba said, “What I can tell you is that the military does abduct journalists, it is not known for that.”

The International Press Institute, the Nigeria Guild of Editors, and Olatunji’s employers had in separate statements, faulted his incarceration, asking authorities to either release the editor or charge him to court.