NUJ Demands Immediate Release Of Punch Reporter Kidnapped In Abuja

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has called for the immediate release of Okechukwu Nnodim, an Abuja-based correspondent with The Punch Newspapers.

The union made the call in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche and Ochiaka Ugwu, on Friday.

This website reported Nnodim’s abduction on Wednesday by four gunmen at his residence in Kubwa.

The gunmen were said to have fired several gunshots in the air before scaling the fence to the journalists residence and kidnapped him.

The union condemned the act as “heinous” and called for his unconditional release.

“It is unacceptable that a journalist is abducted and held for whatever reason. A fundamental pre-requisite for a free media is that journalists be allowed to move freely in their efforts to gather and transmit information.

“While condemning this heinous act in strong terms, we urge the kidnappers to release the journalist immediately and charge the security agencies to do all they can to ensure that Nnodim and all those held by kidnappers and bandits are rescued while the perpetrators are brought to justice.

“It is time journalists stop being endangered species for doing their constitutional duties. It is unfortunate that other forms of harassment against the press are becoming frequent.

“It is worrying that journalists have been assaulted while covering events and several others have reported receiving threats over their work.

“As a council, we demand that immediate steps be taken to arrest this ugly development so that journalists can fulfil their constitutional mandate unhindered,” the statement said.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, has, however, launched a manhunt to rescue the victim from his abductors.