International Human Rights Organization, Amnesty International has expressed concern about the continued threat to the life Kogi based journalist, Ralph Omololu Agbana by Nigeria security agents.
In a series of tweets on its verified Twitter handle, Amnesty International noted that Kogi state is increasingly bedeviled by political violence with journalists subjected to threats of violence and intimidation.
“Amnesty International is concerned over threats by Nigeria’s secret service DSS & the @PoliceNG, which compelled Kogi based journalist Ralph Omololu Agbana of @GuardianNigeria to go into hiding. It is appalling that the reporter is intimidated at the instance of politicians.
“Kogi state is increasingly bedeviled by political violence, with journalists subjected to threats of violence and intimidation. It is the responsibility of Nigerian authorities to ensure that; no state institution is used to deprive people of their fundamental human rights.”
Agbana, Kogi state correspondent of Guardian Newspaper, the flagship of Nigerian journalism, drew the ire of the Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Edward Onoja when the news of his purported arrest over plan to attack a governorship aspirant and former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Jibrin Usman was published by Guardian.
The Guardian published the report on Tuesday, June 4, 2019. The correspondent who filed the story, Ralph Omololu-Agbana, who has grossed over two decades on the reportorial beat, garnering experience through Thisday and The Guardian, respectively, is very highly regarded by his employers for factual, in-depth and professional reportage and analysis. Speculation, sensationalism and frivolity have never been aspects of his authorial style.
On June 6, 2019, P F Joseph, a partner in Femjoe Associates (legal practitioners), with its office in Kabba, Kogi State, sent a petition to the Kogi Commissioner of Police, calling for the arrest and arraignment of Omololu-Agbana for ‘cyber-stalking, public incitement and criminal defamation.’
Since this multi-pronged hunt for the typically easy-going unassuming correspondent of The Guardian, his whereabouts have remained unknown, fuelling fears and anxiety about his security and safety.
