Police Apologise Over Arrest of Osun Journalist

The Osun State Police Command has apologised to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the International Press Centre (IPC) over the arrest and detention of the Osun NUJ Secretary, Olalekan Akindoju.

 

The apology was conveyed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, during a live programme on Rave 91.7FM, where he said the command had begun investigating the officers involved in the operation.

 

Ojelabi apologised to Akindoju, the Osun NUJ, Rave 91.7FM/WSTV, and the journalism profession, describing the detention as regrettable.

 

Akindoju, who is also the Head of News and Current Affairs at Rave 91.7FM/WSTV, was arrested at his residence in Osogbo on June 11 during what police later described as a case of mistaken identity.

 

He said he identified himself as a journalist and presented his official identity card but was still arrested, handcuffed and detained for several hours before being released following the intervention of colleagues and the NUJ.

 

The incident attracted condemnation from media organisations and press freedom advocates, who described the arrest as a violation of journalists’ rights and called for accountability.

 

The police said investigations into the conduct of the officers involved are ongoing.