The publisher and editor-in-chief of Globalupfront Newspapers, Madu Onuorah has been released on bail by the Enugu State Police Command after being abducted from his Abuja residence by policemen on Wednesday.
According to a statement by the newspaper’s management, Onuorah was released late Thursday night, following his abduction by men from the Ebonyi Police Command, who were allegedly acting on behalf of the Enugu State Police Command.
The management expressed gratitude to the journalism community, friends, and defenders of freedom of expression who condemned the abduction and demanded Onuorah’s release.
The statement read, “We have confirmed the release (on bail) of our Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Madu Onuorah who was abducted by men of the Ebonyi Police Command on Wednesday 22/5/2024 evening from his residence in Lugbe, Abuja.
“He was released late Thursday, 23/5/2024, night by Enugu State Police Command who requested the Ebonyi Police to abduct him for them. We are awaiting a full briefing by Mr Onuorah and our lawyers before issuing a full statement on this matter and the next line of action.
“We solidly stand by our Editor-in-Chief and the harmless story we published. We insist the police station is not a court of law where alleged defamation cases are tried. We want to thank the Journalism and Media family, friends and well-wishers, and all defenders of freedom of expression who rose against a budding tyranny.”
They reiterated their support for their editor-in-chief and the story he published, emphasizing that a police station is not a court of law where defamation cases can be tried.
Onuorah’s abduction occurred just 21 days after another journalist, Daniel Ojukwu, was taken into custody by the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police.
Ojukwu was initially held in Lagos before being transferred to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja.
The incident has raised concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists in Nigeria.
The management of Globalupfront Newspapers has promised to issue a full statement on the matter and their next course of action after briefing by Onuorah and their lawyers.
