Update: Police Release Abuja Editor On Bail

Madu Onuorah

The Nigerian Police Force, NPF, has released Madu Onuorah, the publisher and editor-in-chief of a newspaper platform, on bail after he was reportedly abducted from his residence in Lugbe, Abuja on Wednesday.

Onuorah’s release was announced by the management of the Globalupfront Newspapers in a statement on Friday.

The management disclosed that he was released on bail on Thursday night by the Enugu State Police Command.

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.”

On Wednesday, Onuorah was whisked away by the security operatives at about 6 p.m. in the presence of his wife and children, the management said.

It was gathered that about 10 fully-armed policemen stormed his residence in Lugbe, Abuja, in two Sienna buses and took the editor without presenting a warrant of arrest, while he’s remained incommunicado with his family members, lawyer, and his workplace.

His abduction came barely 21 days after a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Daniel Ojukwu, was abducted by the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police.

Ojukwu who was initially held at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, in Lagos State, was later transferred to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja.