The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Imo State Council, has condemned the arrest of radio presenter Chinonso Uba, known as Nonsokwa, by the Nigeria Police Force, viewing it as an attempt to undermine press freedom in the state.
In a statement signed by State Chairman Precious Nwadike and Secretary Ori Martins, the union criticized the manner of Uba’s arrest and urged the police to proceed with legal action in court.
The NUJ reported that Uba had been missing, prompting his family and friends to raise concerns about his sudden disappearance, which was only addressed by the police days later with confirmation of his arrest.
The council accused the police of delaying acknowledgment of the arrest and described it as a “Gestapo-style” operation, which fueled speculation that Uba had been abducted.
According to a police statement shared with the NUJ, Uba’s arrest was made following a petition from an anonymous group called “Concerned Citizens,” who accused him of cyberstalking, defamation, spreading misinformation, and inciting unrest related to the recent burning of the National Open University (NOUN) Study Centre in Nsu, Ehime Mbano LGA.
In response to the situation, the council urged the police to act with integrity and professionalism by either promptly charging Uba in court or releasing him on bail without delay.
The union emphasized that, since the police have confirmed Uba was not abducted, it is essential for the legal process to be followed. They pointed out that under the law, a detainee cannot be held for more than 48 hours without being charged, and they called on the Imo Police Command to handle the situation professionally to avoid perceptions of suppressing dissent.
The council also highlighted that journalists in the state have cooperated with the police to ensure public safety and encouraged the police to maintain this collaborative relationship by avoiding actions that could be seen as hostile to press freedom.