The Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Ibrahim Gotan, has issued a public apology to the Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council, Lekan Akindoju, following his unlawful arrest and detention by a team of police officers from the command. Gotan confirmed that an investigation is underway to identify the officers responsible for the illegal arrest and detention, and he has vowed to expose them.
Details of the Incident
The apology comes approximately one week after a group of heavily armed policemen, reportedly from the Prompt Response Unit of the state police command, stormed the residence of Akindoju, an Editor at Rave FM radio station in Osogbo. The officers allegedly harassed him, handcuffed him, and took him away without any just cause.
Account from the Victim
In an interview, Akindoju recounted that he was arrested on Thursday, June 11, at around 6:00 am in a traumatising manner. He was released about five hours later following interventions from concerned stakeholders. According to the NUJ Secretary, the police officers later claimed that his arrest and detention were a "mistake," after threatening and harassing him with firearms. He further revealed that the officers collected N77,000 as bail from his neighbour, who was also arrested on the same day, before releasing him.
"After a while and due to the intervention of those who came, the CP, Ibrahim Gotan told the police officers I had to go and ordered them to release me. But I was forced to write a statement. They told me I had to explain to them the people living in my compound, the kind of people they are and how many they are. I had to write a statement and my CEO had to fill a bail bond. Though we didn’t pay. But, eventually, the other guy that was picked up, he was released last night and he told me that they collected N77,000 from him before he could regain his freedom," Akindoju stated.
Reactions and Demands
The NUJ and other relevant bodies condemned the arrest and called on CP Gotan to identify and produce the team of police officers who unlawfully arrested and detained the editor. They also demanded that Gotan expose the officers who allegedly extorted N77,000 from Akindoju’s neighbour and bring them to justice. The organisations described the developments as disturbing and unacceptable. In addition to calling for the identification and prosecution of the officers involved, they demanded a public apology from the Police Force for the unwarranted harassment of the journalist.
Official Apology
Meanwhile, speaking on a television programme on behalf of the CP, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abiodun Ojelabi, in an apparent sober mood, apologised to Akindoju, the Osun NUJ Council, and all journalists in the state over the incidents. Ojelabi stated that the CP instructed him to tender the apology and confirmed that an investigation is ongoing to expose the officers who carried out the arrest. "In the name of the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, CP Ibrahim Gotan, I want to beg the Osun NUJ Secretary, all citizens of Osun State, and all Journalists, not to be angry over the incidents. The CP asked me to say this. We are investigating the officers who carried out the acts," Ojelabi said.
