I WAS ARRESTED BY SOLDIERS FOR REPORTING INCESSANT BOKO HARAM ATTACKS- JOURNALIST

The Daily Trust reporter in Maiduguri, Borno State, Olatunji Omirin has narrated his plight when arrested by the soldiers, explaining that his arrest was the fallout of his report about the increasing attacks along the dreaded Kano-Maiduguri highway.by Boko Haram.

Penpushing reports that, Omirin said the report did not go down well with the Military authorities, hence, the  soldiers  stormed the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at New Government Reservation Area(GRA), handcuffed him and, forced him into a Hilux van and drove away.

The reporter said,  he was kept handcuffed for some time and placed in detention till about 7pm, and had to be released following pressure from his colleagues, who also boycotted a major military function scheduled for 5 p.m.

Penpushing further reports that, Omirin was taken to Maimalari Barracks of the 7 Division Nigeria Army, adding that the  officer that ordered his arrest told him the military was not happy with some of his reports, and that the officer demanded to know his sources.

Hear him, ’the officer was furious with his boys for bringing me without my phone. When they took me by force at NUJ secretariat, my phone was not with me; that actually infuriated the man. He said the military was not happy with some of my report particularly that of 20th January, and I said ‘is that why you have to handcuff me?’. It was then he apologised and said that it was his boys that acted in an overzealous”.

The journalist said the military was interested in getting his mobile phone to possibly get his sources of information, adding that, since that objective was not achieved, he was reluctantly released after his colleagues and office complained.

Penpushing also reports that, the Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General  Olusegun Adeniyi,  who was to host the event, said he was not aware of the journalist’s arrest.