Group Slams Ex-CBN Chief over Arrest of Young Editor
The Kwara State Coalition of CSOs and media activists condemns the intimidation, arrest and evacuation of Mr. Gidado Shuaib, the young editor of NewsDigest from Abuja to Ilorin, Kwara State purportedly over the publication of an investigative report last year exposing unfettered consumptions of cigarettes and India hemp at an agroallied company allegedly owned by the former CBN acting Governor, Dr. Sarah Alade.
Rather than inviting the owners of the online media platforms for investigations in civility as expected from a democratic policing, three plain clothed security operatives purportedly from Kwara State Command of Nigerian Police Force, Ilorin- stormed the family residence of Mr. Gidado to whisky him away.
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Whilst Dr. Alade has liberty to lodge a compliant if she felt her character has been defamed as claimed by Police spokesperson in the state, the Nigerian Police should not appear as if it is being manipulated to intimidate the law abiding citizens doing their constitutional guarantee watchdog of the society role.
Undoubtedly, the menace of drug and substance abuse has reached a crescendo necessitating the FGN to constitute the Buba Marwa committee with the wives of both the President and his Vice as members to lend credence to the troubling growing menace of drug abuse in the country.
Besides, the National Tobacco Control Act restricted the cigarettes smoking to designated areas talkless of India hemp.
Rather than applauded the said report for exposing the deepness of the drug abuses and work collectively with stakeholders from civil society including the media to tackle the menace, the law enforcement appears tendering towards the manipulative influence of the powerful to clampdown on those who are concerned about our youth’s future.
Signed:
Tunde Salman
Convener: GGT and Musa Aliyu, Executive Director, MATEC
