. ‘They came in two unmarked vehicles, forcefully followed him into the house while he was returning from Mosque,’ here are the details Mrs. Adegbenro gave on the seven-man early morning “chaotic” operation that left the family terribly terrified
A journalist with Mainland 98.3 FM Lagos, Nurdeen Adegbenro, was on Wednesday morning whisked away from his Agege residence by seven armed policemen.
Adegbenro’s wife, Aminat, who confirmed the incident to Platforms Africa, noted that her husband was whisked away at 6:14 am by a group of seven armed men who claimed to have come from the Alagbon FCID in Lagos.
“He was coming in from the Mosque at about 6:14 am after the early morning prayer when four of the men who were not in uniform followed him into the house. They forcefully took him to their vehicles outside, and at that point, we discovered that they were seven as we saw three others in the two vehicles they used for the operation.
“All they could tell us was that they came from Alagbon, threatening to manhandle him if he refused to cooperate by following them,” she told Platforms Africa on the phone.
“That chaotic situation, which was witnessed by our young children, has left us terribly terrified,” she said.
Efforts are still on to get the reaction of the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer (PPPRO), Benjamin Hundeyi. He has not been reached as at the time of this report.
The unsettling incident has sent shockwaves through the local media community and raised serious concerns about the state of press freedom under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
According to Adenekan’s wife, who confirmed the disturbing development, the officers did not identify themselves or provide any reasons for their actions. She described the situation as chaotic and terrifying, noting that her husband was forcibly taken without any explanation, leaving her and their family in a state of confusion and fear.
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The policemen, whose identities remain unknown, arrived at their residence early Wednesday morning and, in a Gestapo manner, took Adenekan away in an unmarked vehicle.
His wife stated that they neither showed any warrants nor informed her of any charges or investigations linked to her husband’s work. This has raised questions about the legality and justification for the abduction, sparking fears that it might be linked to Adenekan’s journalistic activities, especially around Agege community where he is resident.
Adegbenro Adenekan’s arrest is the latest in a series of troubling incidents that have highlighted the deteriorating state of press freedom in Nigeria.
Despite promises of upholding democratic principles, including the protection of press freedom, journalists across Nigeria have reported growing threats to their safety and independence. In Adenekan’s case, it remains unclear whether his abduction is directly linked to his work at Mainland FM, his Agege community, or if it is part of a broader pattern of repression.
Meanwhile, Mainland FM has added his voice to the call to free Adebekan, a staff member at the radio station.
In a statement sent to Platforms Africa, the management of the radio station said that Adegbenro was arrested and detained on allegations of cyberbullying.
Here is the statement
FREE NURUDEEN NOW!
We have just confirmed that our brave colleague, Nurudeen Adegbenro, who was arrested and detained by the Police on the allegations of cyberbullying.
This surprising action against a dedicated journalist highlights the ongoing threats facing media professionals who dare to speak truth to power.
We are calling for his immediate release and standing firm against all forms of bullying and intimidation targeted at journalists. Everyone deserves the right to express their views without fear of retribution.
Let’s unite for the protection of press freedom and the safety of those who work tirelessly to inform and empower our communities.
#FreeNurudeen
#PressFreedom
#JournalismIsNotACrime
Platforms Africa
