Military finally releases FirstNews editor — 13 days after ‘seizing’ him

The Nigerian military has finally released Segun Olatunji, the editor of FirstNews, who has been in their custody since March 15.

TheCable understands that Olatunji was released to select journalists in Abuja on Thursday, who were asked to guarantee that they would make him available if needed.

The editor was abducted by armed men in his home in Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos, on March 15.

After he was taken away, family members of the editor were kept in the dark on his whereabouts or on why he was seized.

Several groups, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Guild of Editors, and International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, had clamoured for Olatunji’s release for days on end.

On Wednesday, the Nigerian chapter of the IPI said the journalist was in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).