Coalition Condemns Abduction of Photojournalist Uchenna Nwube, Calls on Government to Secure his Release

Press Release

Thursday, June 9, 2022:   The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPFF) condemns the June 8, 2022 abduction of Mr Uchenna Nwube, a photojournalist working with the Ebonyi State Government House, by suspected kidnappers. 

The Coalition calls on the Government to launch an investigation into the incident and secure his release. According to a report by Premium Times, Mr Nwube was abducted on the Okigwe-Aba-Enugu Expressway in Ebonyi State and his abductors are demanding a N50 million ransom for his release.

The Coalition criticize as unacceptable a statement credited to Police spokesperson, Chris Anyanwu, that the incident is not within the jurisdiction of the Ebonyi State Police Command and calls on the State Government to collaborate with the relevant police authorities having jurisdiction in the matter to facilitate a speedy and thorough investigation of the abduction and ensure that the journalist is released unharmed.

The Coalition is also calling on the Federal Government to provide all necessary support to the Ebonyi State Government and the Police to ensure a satisfactory resolution of the matter.

We urge the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to do everything in its power to ensure the safe release of Mr Nwebe. We demand that the Federal and State Governments collaborate with the Police to track down the perpetrators of the attack on the journalist and ensure that they are brought to justice.

The Coalition calls on law enforcement and security agencies to put more effort into ensuring that normalcy is restored on the Okigwe-Aba-Enugu Axis in the light of the recurring incidents of abductions in the area. 

Signed

Premium Times

The Cable

Daily Trust Newspaper

International Centre for Investigative Reporting

Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism

Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ)

African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)

Civic Media Lab

Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC)

International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR)

International Press Centre (IPC)

Media Rights Agenda (MRA)

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)

Paradigm Initiative

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)

OrderPaper Advocacy Initiative

HEDA Resources Centre.