A newspaper Distributor in AKwa identified as Mr Chidi Ngadiubia has been arrested by Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Akwa State command, on Friday and detained at Ikot-AkpanAbia, headquarters, allegedly on the order of the State government over offensive publication against interest of the state government The Trumpet has gathered.
It was gathered that Mr Ngadiubia was picked up at his distribution point, No 15. Asutan street, which also housed the Punch newspaper office, by the operatives who were on a mission to arrest the Publisher of a local tabloid – the Mail newspaper, Mr. Ifreke Nseowo over alleged offensive publications.
An eyewitness Mr Chris Etim who was with Distributor before he was arrested told our Correspondent that a female caller had tricked the newspaper Publisher now at large by telling him she has an advert for him for publication in his paper.
Apparently sensing problems, he said the publisher directed the caller to drop the advertisement materials with the newspaper distributor to be picked up at a later date.
But on arrival at Mr Ngaduibia’s distribution point, they arrested and dragged him, to the Police Headquarters Ikot Akpanabia, in Uyo, the state capital, and asked him to produce the publisher, else he will be made to face the wrath for connivance.
Recalled that the plot to arrest the publisher had been widely reported by other local tabloids in the state, who had alleged that the State government is not happy with certain publications of the newspaper as it relates to the PDP candidate, Umo Uno’s alleged certificate forgery scandal.
Meanwhile, Federated Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ) which the hunted publisher Ifreke Nseowo is a member has condemned in strong terms the manner in which journalists are being hounded in the state.
Read Also: Threat to Attack Churches: Video’s old, recirculated – Zamfara Police
The Chairman of the chapel, Mr. Nsibiet John, in a statement, described the development as “wicked, callous, ungodly, satanic and a fresh attempt to violently violate all known rules of democracy and free press.”
He said the arrest of Chidi in place of The Mail Publisher has also raised fresh concerns as the NUJ in Akwa Ibom State had reiterated its stance of not allowing any of her members to be victimised and hounded by any individual, group or institution.
However, the Public Relations Officer in AKwa Ibom SP Odiko Macdon. while responding to the development said that the State NUJ chairman, Mr Amos Etuk, had already drawn his attention to the matter.
While pledging that the command would invite the parties involved for amicable resolutions, he urged journalist to practice the profession within the ambit of the law and respect other people’s views
His words ” I have been called by the NUJ Chairman on this not long ago.
We need more details on this. We will stand for the truth as an institution.
We are committed to serving the good people of this state
“We wish to call on our amiable Members of the Fourth Estate of the Realms to practice their profession within the ambits of the law and respect other people’s views and rights.
Let those concern reach me for us to find the truth and create a level playing ground for all, pls”.
Newspaper Distributor Chidi Ngadiubia arrested by police in AKwa Ibom on Friday evening .
Click on The Trumpet and follow us on our Twitter page for more:
