Juliana Francis
The Nigerian Human Rights Coalition has demanded that the Nigeria Police Force should immediately release human rights defender and journalist Theodore Chinonso Uba, aka Nonso Nkwa, and also further demanded that all charges against him be dropped.
According to the group, Mr Uba, a journalist and radio presenter who is also the coordinator of ‘’Protect the Weak International Foundation (PROWIF), a human rights group based in Owerri, Imo State was abducted on his way from work at OsisaFM radio station
According to several eyewitnesses, Mr Uba was abducted at about 10: am by several masked men in three unmarked vehicles in front of Maria Assumpta Cathedral church in Owerri, Imo state on his way home from work. He was reportedly taken to the Criminal Investigative Department(CID) of the Imo state police command. It is believed he is currently detained at the Police Force Headquarters Abuja.
The group said: “Nigerian authorities should immediately release journalist Theodore Chinonso Uba and drop all charges against him. No journalist should be intimidated or arrested because of his work. The Nigerian police have too often proven brazenly willing to flout the law to intimidate the press.
“We are convinced that Nonso Nkwa is being targeted for his work as a journalist, his criticism of the Imo state government as well as the spate of killings by both state and non-state actors in the Imo state.
“NonsoNkwa has in the past faced constant threats and intimidation from security agents and the Imo state government officials for his human rights advocacy.
“In July 2022, Mr. NonsoNkwa cried out about his safety, accusing security agents of coming after him after his radio station OsisaFm was shut down by the Federal Government and his house surrounded by security agents.
“The incident came after the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) shut down the radio station on the order of the Imo state government for reporting the July 17 killing of 14 wedding guests in Awomama in Oru East Local Government Area of the state by the Imo state security outfit, Ebubeagu.”
