The Conference of Benue Journalists (CBJ) has condemned in strong terms, the illegal arrest and detention of its member, Mr. Sunday Ode, a senior State House correspondent with Peoples Daily newspaper by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
In a statement by its vice president, Mr Ewache Ajefu, in Abuja on Sunday, the group alleged that it was aware that the arrest of Mr Ode breached due process and his fundamental human rights.
“We are aware that the illegal arrest of Mr Ode is at the instance of the Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom through his counsel Samuel E. Irabor ESQ. after a petition dated 14\04\2021 and addressed to the commissioner of police, Benue state command, alleging that our colleague wrote a report that is injurious to his client.
“Gov. Ortom who has always presented himself as a fighter of injustice cannot be seen as a gross violator of the rights of any citizen”. CBJ said.
CBJ said that as a professional media organisation, it has always encouraged its members to uphold high ethical standards.
The group which said that although it was aware that Mr Ode has since been granted bail, urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to show concern in this nature of rights violation, intimidation and harassment of journalists in Benue State and other parts of the country.
