Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has demanded the immediate release of a journalist, Stanley Ugagbe. The union condemned his arrest and continued detention by yet-to-be-identified security operatives suspected to be operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
In a statement issued by the secretary of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, the council described the incident as disturbing, noting that the circumstances surrounding Ugagbe’s arrest remain unclear, with no official explanation regarding his whereabouts, the allegations against him, or the legal basis for his detention.
According to the union, Ugagbe, a reporter with SecretReporters, was reportedly arrested on Wednesday, July 1, shortly after returning home from work at his residence in Jikwoyi Phase II, Abuja.
The NUJ said four armed men dressed in plain clothes allegedly arrived at the residence and took the journalist to an unknown destination.
One of the operatives was reportedly dressed in a T-shirt and trousers, while another was armed with an assault rifle.
The union further stated that the operatives confiscated Ugagbe’s mobile phone and laptop before taking him away in an unmarked black Mitsubishi Pajero SUV with tinted windows.
The council disclosed that it had contacted several security agencies to determine whether the journalist was in their custody, but the agencies reportedly denied holding him or having any knowledge of his whereabouts.
The NUJ called on the relevant security agencies to immediately identify the operatives involved, disclose the reasons for Ugagbe’s arrest, grant him access to his family and legal representatives, and either charge him before a court of competent jurisdiction if there is a lawful basis for his detention or release him without further delay.
The union reiterated its commitment to defending press freedom, saying it would continue to monitor the situation closely and support efforts to ensure the journalist’s safe release.
