The Federal Capital Territory Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) staged a peaceful protest at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday over the abduction of Tordue Salem, a Vanguard Newspaper correspondent at the House of Representatives.
“BringBackTordueAlive,” “FreeTordueSalem,” “JournalismIsNotAcrime,” and other slogans were spotted on the banners carried by the journalists.
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Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, who led the protest, bemoaned the fact that, despite a report filed at the House of Reps Police Division only 48 hours after Tordue’s disappearance and a subsequent petition to the office of the Inspector General of Police by the NUJ FCT council, nothing reasonable has been done by the police since his disappearance on October 13, 2021, just a few meters away from the force headquarters.
Mr. Ogbeche demanded that the police do all humanly necessary to ensure the journalist’s safe release.
To soothe tense nerves, he demanded that the matter be transferred to a special police unit under the IGP’s office, and that the NPF hold a confidential briefing with Tordue’s family, the Union’s leadership, and his employers.
Usman Alkali Baba, the Inspector General of Police, responded by saying that the matter of the missing journalist was already with them and that an inquiry was on to find out what happened to him.
The IGP, who was represented by Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, expressed confidence that the missing journalist will be located and returned alive.
Meanwhile, Terver Akase, the former Chief Press Secretary to Benue State Governor, has praised the NUJ for its show of unity in demonstrating for the journalist’s liberation.
On Monday, Akase issued the commendation on his official Facebook page, pleading with Tordue’s kidnappers to let him go for the sake of his young family.
“I join our Abuja colleagues in calling for Tordue Salem’s safe return,” he added. Congratulations to all journalists who participated the Free-Tordue march in the FCT and other regions of the country.
We implore whoever is holding Tordue to consider his small family, understand their anguish, and allow him to return home to meet them.”
