Nigerian Journalist Abducted in Ilorin by Alleged Special Fraud Unit Operatives, Sparks Outrage

By Our Correspondent

The abduction of Rowland “Shuwa” Olonishuwa, a Nigerian journalist based in Ilorin, has triggered a wave of fury and indignation. Olonishuwa was reportedly taken from his residence along Asa-Dam Road, Ilorin, by armed individuals suspected to be officers from the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Lagos State Police Command.

This incident, first reported by DiasporaDigitalMedia.

By Thursday afternoon, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Chapter, and the Guild of Digital Journalists (GDJ) issued separate statements condemning the manner in which the arrest was carried out, noting that the state police command in Kwara was not notified beforehand.

According to initial investigations, Shuwa was forcibly taken from his home on the morning of Wednesday, September 25, 2024. The NUJ Kwara State Chapter revealed that detectives from the SFU descended on Olonishuwa’s residence without alerting the Kwara State Police Command.

Mahmoud Yinka Alaya, Secretary of the Kwara NUJ Council, expressed the union’s dismay in a statement: “Upon receiving the report of yesterday’s incident, the leadership of the Kwara NUJ Council immediately contacted the Kwara State Police Command to inquire about the arrest. However, the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed that the Kwara Police Command was unaware of any operation or planned activities involving officers from Lagos.”

The abduction is believed to be linked to a series of news reports published by Olonishuwa about an ongoing investigation into a commercial bank. The Nigerian House of Representatives is currently probing the bank, and reports indicate that the bank’s CEO objected to certain coverage that allegedly implicated him in the collapse of a television project.

The Guild of Digital Journalists (GDJ), an organization comprising mainstream and online journalists, has also condemned the abduction. In a statement jointly signed by Oyez Olatunde Rextun, Secretary General, and Opeyemi Daniel Adeoti, Chairman of GDJ, the group criticized the manner of the arrest and expressed concerns over Olonishuwa’s safety and his right to communicate with the outside world.

“The method of arrest lacks proper procedure, and he has been deprived of communication with the external world,” the GDJ statement read, labeling the detention a violation of his rights as a journalist.

Both the NUJ and GDJ have escalated the issue, with the NUJ Kwara Chapter informing its national body of the incident. They have called for an immediate investigation into the arrest, urging the authorities to ensure that Olonishuwa’s rights are respected and that the rule of law is upheld.

As of the time of this report, there has been no official statement from the Lagos State Police Command or the SFU regarding the reasons behind Olonishuwa’s arrest or his current whereabouts. The journalist’s family, colleagues, and the broader journalism community remain deeply concerned about his safety and demand his immediate release.