"Press Freedom under siege: FPS Roars Against Military's Assault on Journalistic Liberties"

In a resounding declaration echoing the sentiments of other esteemed professional bodies within the journalism community, the Fourth Estate Professional Society (FPS) has issued a fervent plea to the military and other security agencies, imploring them to desist from the relentless arrest and intimidation of journalists, advocating for the fundamental right of the press to operate freely under the banner of "Let the Press Breathe."

This impassioned call to action was catalyzed by the reported abduction of Mr. Segun Olatunji, the esteemed Editor of FirstNews, whose harrowing ordeal concluded only within the past 24 hours with his release from the confines of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) custody in Abuja. Mr. Olatunji's ordeal spanned a grueling 14-day period, during which he was allegedly held against his will by the authorities.

Amidst mounting pressure from prominent bodies such as the International Press Institute (IPI), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), fervently advocating for Mr. Olatunji's liberation, the FPS has emerged as a steadfast voice, articulating the collective outcry against the arbitrary detention and suppression of press freedom.

In an official communiqué issued by the Chairman of the FPS Abuja Chapter, Comrade Kehinde Osasona, and Secretary, Emmanuel Ekwe, the society admonished the military establishment against the pernicious practice of arbitrary arrests, emphasizing the imperative of affording the press the liberty to fulfill its indispensable role without fear of reprisal or censorship.

The statement unequivocally asserts, "The unjust abduction of Mr. Segun Olatunji, Editor of FirstNews, came to us as shock and a sad reminder of the military era. We make bold to state at this juncture that freedom of the press is like oxygen; and is essential for any democracy to thrive globally. The military and other security agencies should allow the press to breathe and stop gagging them in the line of duty."

Furthermore, the FPS extolled the unwavering solidarity demonstrated by members of the Fourth Estate of the realm throughout the arduous campaign for Mr. Olatunji's liberation, underscoring the collective determination to safeguard the integrity of journalistic practice and uphold the sacrosanct principles of press freedom.

The resounding chorus of condemnation from the FPS serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring struggle to preserve the liberties enshrined within the fabric of democratic societies, reaffirming the indispensable role of a free and unfettered press in safeguarding the public interest and promoting accountability within the corridors of power.

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