In a shocking twist of events, the Secretary of the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Bunmi Adigun, has narrated how he was unlawfully arrested and detained by the Police Area Commander of Zone 2, Abeokuta, ACP Ogundele Olorunwa, after he sought police assistance to restore sanity around the Union Secretariat.
According to Comrade Adigun, what began as a simple civic effort to curb the persistent nuisance caused by individuals—particularly ladies of the night who have turned the vicinity of the NUJ Secretariat in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, into a hub of indecent activity—quickly degenerated into a night of humiliation and abuse of power.
He explained that after calling the attention of the police to a defiant woman who repeatedly caused disturbance around the Secretariat, he was shocked to find himself on the receiving end of police intimidation. Upon realizing his identity, the Area Commander allegedly accused him of sharing a Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) story on Facebook that referenced the same officer’s name.
“I was arrested for doing the right thing,” Adigun said. “Instead of helping to maintain order, the Area Commander used his position to settle a personal score. He detained me for hours, questioned my social media activities, and forced me to write a statement — all because I had once shared a legitimate news story about him. This is not policing; this is vendetta.”
Adigun’s ordeal has since sparked outrage within the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, which has described the incident as a flagrant abuse of police authority and a gross violation of human rights.
In a statement signed by the NUJ State Chairman, Comrade ‘Wale Olanrewaju, the Council condemned the Area Commander’s action as unlawful, vindictive, and unbecoming of a senior law enforcement officer, demanding an immediate investigation and appropriate sanctions.
“This is a disturbing pattern of misconduct that cannot be ignored. Our Secretary sought police support to address a public nuisance, only to be detained because of a personal grudge. It is a disgraceful abuse of office,” the statement read.
The Union further revealed that ACP Olorunwa already has a pending case before the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), a fact it says raises even greater concern about his professional integrity. The NUJ therefore called on the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, to take urgent action to restore public confidence and discipline within the command.
“We hold the police in high regard and enjoy a cordial working relationship with officers of integrity in Ogun State. However, the actions of one errant officer must not be allowed to tarnish the image of the entire force. We demand that the Area Commander be queried, investigated, and disciplined appropriately,” the statement continued.
The NUJ emphasized that it would not tolerate any form of intimidation, harassment, or unlawful detention of journalists, warning that such actions undermine press freedom and the rule of law.
“This is bigger than one person. It’s about accountability, justice, and the right of journalists to work without fear. Ogun NUJ stands firmly with Comrade Bunmi Adigun and will pursue this matter until justice is served,” the Council concluded.
