Reactions have continued to trail the arrest of Journalist Daniel Elombah by
SARS, over alleged criticism of Buhari’s govt On January 1.
Some Civil society, human right groups as well as concerned Nigerians who have condemned the arrest of the journalist, are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to order his release and his brother.
The concerned Nigerians have equally launched twitter hash tags, #FREE Elombah #FreePRESS, to demand the release of the journalist and his brother.
Spearheading the calls for his release is the Convener Concerned Nigeria, Deji Adeyanju. In a series of tweets, Adeyanju who was also the former Director, Media, to the now opposition Peoples Democeatic Party, PDP, however said it is the right of every Nigerian to criticize his president if he feels dissatisfied with the administration.
Adeyanju accused President Buhari of trying to gag the press.
He said the president can use legal actions on any Nigeria that criticizes him instead of using instrument of state powers.
Other twitter users also condemned the arrest and called for the immediate release of the journalist.
Condemning the arrest, Adeyanju wrote: “I have just heard of the arrest of London-based journalist Daniel Elombah – owner of Elombah.com and his brother who run his online blog at 4.00am this morning by SARS operatives.
“Journalism is not a crime. SARS operatives had told Daniel Elombah’s wife that they arrested her husband because of what he wrote against Buhari.
“We cannot allow these kinds of things go on unabated in 2018. We know that as elections draw near, this government will be more vicious to critics and journalist but our duty is to make sure Nigerians remain FREE to express their views and opinions.
“We are not in a tyranny. You cannot be using SARS or DSS to arrest journalists in 2018.
If someone wrote something against president Buhari and he doesn’t like it, he should direct his lawyers to sue and not use state institutions to intimidate, harass or arrest them.
“Every citizen has a right to criticize their president. If you can’t handle the heat Mr. President, leave the kitchen.”
London-based journalist, Daniel Elombah, who is the owner of an online medium, Elombah.com, was allegedly arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squared, SARS, on New Year day.
Confirming the arrest, Mr. Elombah’s wife told newsmen that her husband was arrested around 4:00 am of January, 2018 by the operatives.
She also said that SARS operatives told her that they arrested her husband because of what he wrote against Buhari.
“My husband was arrested in the wee hours of today. They told us they were acting based on orders from above,” Mrs. Elombah told newsmen.
Reports also said Mr. Elombah was arrested alongside his brother from their family house in Edoji-Uruagu Nnewi, Anambra State.
