Operatives of Nigeria Police on Friday have raided the head office of an online newspaper, Peoples Gazette, in Abuja.
It was gathered that John Adenekan, an assistant managing editor, was taken away at about 12:35 p.m. by five armed police officers who broke into the paper’s office opposite NNPC Quarters in Utako, the newspaper reported.
The officers declined to state the reason for their assault, but demanded to see Managing Editor Samuel Ogundipe and reporter Adefemola Akintade.
Both journalists were not available during the operation, prompting the officers to arrest Mr Adenekan in their stead, perpetuating an unconstitutional tradition of arresting associates in the event that people of interest are unavailable.
Adenekan said he was being taken to the Utako police division following the raid.
The Gazette has faced several attacks aimed at intimidating its journalists since its inception in September 2020, including the reported restriction of access to its website in January 2021 and the invasion of the same head office in January 2022 by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
More details to follow…..
