The family of Segun Olatunji, the abducted editor of FirstNews, has issued a heartfelt plea for his safe release, citing his health conditions. Olatunji, a former correspondent for The Punch in Kaduna State, was reportedly taken from his residence in Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos, by ten armed individuals last Friday.
His wife, Mrs. Oluwatosin Olatunji, revealed in an interview with our correspondent the health challenges her husband faces, emphasising his asthma and ulcer conditions.
Describing him as a dedicated and calm journalist who often worked late into the night, she expressed her anguish over his disappearance. Mrs. Olatunji, a mother of five, appealed to both the government and well-meaning Nigerians for assistance in securing her husband’s safe return, stressing the toll his absence has taken on her health and emotional well-being.
Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Segun Olatunji. In a statement signed by the union’s Assistant National Secretary, Akorede Opeyemi, the abduction was condemned as a grave threat to press freedom.
The NUJ emphasised the vital role journalists play in upholding democracy and called for measures to safeguard their safety and security.
Meanwhile, FirstNews, where Olatunji serves as editor, has joined in the calls for clarity regarding his whereabouts. The newspaper urged the military high command and security agencies to provide immediate information on the circumstances surrounding Olatunji’s arrest. Despite efforts to contact him from newsmen , his phone remains unreachable, and neither his family nor FirstNews’ management has received any communication regarding the reasons behind his abduction.
The disappearance of Segun Olatunji stressed the dangers journalists face in the course of their duty and highlights the urgent need for authorities to uphold press freedom and ensure the safety of media professionals.
