NUJ KOGI FEDERATED CHAPEL CONDEMNS ARREST OF KOGI REPORTS EDITOR, CALLS NSCDC ACTION “ABUSE OF POWER”
The Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kogi State, has condemned the arrest and detention of _KOGI Reports Editor, Opeyemi Owoeye, by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, describing it as an “arbitrary use of state force” and an overreach that amounts to abuse of power.
Owoeye was arrested on Thursday, June 11, 2026, hours after publishing a report alleging that Hon. Leke Abejide, member representing Yagba Federal Constituency, sought to use the office of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to influence the APC Kogi West senatorial primary.
According to KOGI Reports and sources close to the journalist, he was lured to a hotel by a personal assistant of the lawmaker before NSCDC operatives effected the arrest on the lawmaker’s directive. As of press time, the NSCDC had not issued any statement explaining the arrest or stating the legal basis for detaining a journalist over a published report. Sources at the command said Owoeye would only be released on the order of the federal lawmaker, a development the chapel said “tramples on constitutional rights and due process.”
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“We are saddened by the use of a sledgehammer by a legislator to intimidate a member of our chapel,” the NUJ stated. “The actions of the lawmaker and the NSCDC officials who allowed themselves to be used are unfortunate and set a dangerous precedent for press freedom in Kogi State.”
The chapel noted this is not the first such allegation against Hon. Abejide. Last year, a political associate, Jesse from Mopamuro, was reportedly arrested and detained for days after questioning the lawmaker on rotational arrangements for the constituency seat.
The NUJ Kogi Federated Chapel is therefore calling for:
1. *Immediate and unconditional release* of Opeyemi Owoeye.
2. *A thorough probe* into the conduct of NSCDC officials fingered in the arbitrary arrest.
3. *An end to the use of security agencies* to harass journalists and critics.
The chapel also expressed sympathy with Owoeye’s family, noting that the journalist’s late father was a known supporter of Hon. Abejide — a fact that makes the lawmaker’s disposition more painful for the family.
Attempts to reach Hon. Leke Abejide and the Kogi State Command of the NSCDC for comment were unsuccessful as of press time.
The NUJ reiterated that all parties are presumed innocent until proven otherwise and pledged to update the public as more information becomes available.
Signed:
Abu Micheal
For: Federated Chapel, Kogi State Council, NUJ
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JUNE 12TH 2026)
