Explore the mysterious disappearance and abrupt relocation of FIJ journalist Daniel Ojukwu to Abuja's NPF-NCCC. Concerns over press freedom and journalist safety surface as details remain undisclosed
Daniel Ojukwu, a dedicated journalist for FIJ (Foundation for Investigative Journalism), mysteriously disappeared on May 1st, only to resurface in Abuja's NPF-NCCC under police custody. His transfer from SCID Panti, Lagos, was orchestrated by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police, raising concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists.
Ojukwu, who had been detained at SCID since his sudden disappearance, finally had the opportunity to make a phone call on Sunday after five days of silence. However, authorities have remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind his detention, leaving his colleagues, family, and friends in the dark about his whereabouts until his sudden relocation to Abuja.
Upon arriving in Abuja, Ojukwu found himself confined to a cell at the NPF-NCCC, awaiting interrogation by unidentified agents. His abrupt transfer and detention without explanation have sparked outrage and calls for transparency in the handling of his case.
In a statement on Sunday morning, Ojukwu revealed, "I’m currently in Abuja; I am at the NPF-NCCC – that’s the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre. I arrived this morning and I was taken into a cell. All I know is that I’m in Abuja. This is the first time I’ve been given my phone since Wednesday. They (NPF-NCCC agents) said that they were going to ask me questions. So, I’m waiting."
FIJ took immediate action by filing a missing person report on Thursday, prompting a private detective hired by the organization to trace the last active location of Ojukwu’s phones to Isheri Olofin. It is believed that he was picked up by the police from this location, but the circumstances surrounding his apprehension remain murky.
Adding to the confusion, a relative who visited Ojukwu at Panti disclosed that the authorities accused him of violating the 2015 Cybercrime Act. However, they refused to provide contact details of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), citing jurisdictional grounds as the case was deemed beyond Lagos.
