#RevolutionNow protest: Police arrest The Nations correspondent in Calabar

August 5, 2019 8:06 PM

Mr Nicholas Kalu, a correspondent of The Nations Newspaper was on Monday, August 5, 2019 arrested at the venue of the #RevolutionNow protest at Cultural Center in Calabar,

A RevolutionNow protester challenges a police officer during a demonstration in Surulere, Lagos on Monday, August 5, 2019 [Sahara Reporters]

Nicholas was arrested with some members of the African Action Congress (AAC) and taken to the State Police Command Headquarters at Diamond Hill in Calabar.

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The Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), Mr Victor Udu, confirmed the report, calling for the immediate release of the journalist.

“I condemn the act totally, the journalist was just doing his job, he did not go there with any weapon; we call for his immediate and unconditional release,” Victor said.

likewise, a human right lawyer, James Ibor, said the arrest of the journalist was unfortunate and uncalled for.

“The arrest of a journalist who went to scout for information to brief the public is condemnable and it is a way of ensuring that not just the public is gagged, but the press also,” Ibor said.

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In his reaction, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Austin Agbonlahor, said that all the people arrested in relation to the protest are in police custody.

He said they would undergo interrogations to reveal who is a journalist and who is not.