Gunmen Abduct FirstNews Editor Segun Olatunji

Segun Olatunji, the editor of FirstNews, has been kidnapped at his residence in Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.

Gatekeepers News reports that he was said to have been abducted by gunmen who are suspected to be soldiers at about 6 P.M on Friday.

The wife of the victim explained that the armed men numbering ten arrived at their residence and whisked her husband away without leaving any information behind.

She said her husband’s abductors reached for his phone and seized it immediately after they arrived before bundling him into a van and zooming off.

She said efforts to know his offence or where they were taken him to were rebuffed by the stern-looking men.

“Some armed men dressed in military uniform totaling ten in number (two in uniform and the remaining 8 in mufti but all armed) arrived at our residence at Dauda Oriyomi street, Iyana Odo along Joke Ayo in Abule Egba area of Lagos State and took away my husband.

“They refused to state his offence and where they were taken him to despite all the efforts to make them do so,” she said.

Publisher of First News, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, who also confirmed the incident, said there has been no trace of Olatunji, as his phone line has been switched, neither has anyone reached the family or the management of FirstNews to disclose the real reason behind his abduction.

While condemning the way and manner Olatunji was whisked away, Iworiso-Markson stated that he was never invited formally to answer any issue that bothered on national security.

“The management of First News is using this opportunity to call on the military high command and the security agencies to let us know his whereabout and the reason why he was arrested.

“FirstNews (online & print) is a reputable independent digital news network that prides itself on being a frontline media outfit committed to engaging her world-class audience with factual, authentic, and credible information.

“We conduct our journalism activities with strict observance of the high standards of ethics, accountability, professionalism and legality, while exercising our rights to freedom of expression and information, all in a bid to ensure credible reporting of the news behind the news in Politics, Business, Education, Sport, Health, Entertainment and many more.

“If there was any infraction that bothers on national security, Olatunji should have first been formally invited rather that this gestapo style of arrest that reminds of the dark days of the military era, where press freedom was stifled”.

FirstNews believes that the military must have picked him up because of a recent story published which titled: “Defence Chief running office like family business – Public Interest Lawyers.”