IPI Nigeria Demands Release of Abducted Journalist Ugagbe

IPI Nigeria has called for the immediate release of journalist Stanley Ugagbe, who was reportedly taken into custody by four unidentified men in Abuja on Wednesday. Ugagbe was working on an investigative report for a new online platform when he was abducted.

Fejiro Oliv, the editor-in-chief, alleged that the Nigerian Police Force was involved in the operation. Ugagbe's official laptop and mobile phone were seized, and he was whisked away to an unknown destination.

Following the incident, Oliv and other senior reporters attempted to locate Ugagbe at various police stations, including the Jikwoyi and Karu police stations, but found no record of his detention. IPI Nigeria expressed deep concern over the unlawful arrest, emphasizing that it undermines press freedom and violates constitutional rights.

The organization urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct relevant security agencies to produce Ugagbe and provide access to legal representation, asserting that every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.