In a surprising turn of events, the Imo State Police Command raided the office of Nigeria Watchdog Newspaper, a local publication in the state, and arrested its Deputy Editor, Martine Opara, along with several reporters.

Precious Nwadike, the publisher and editor-in-chief of the newspaper, expressed confusion over the incident, stating that no reason was given for the raid. Initially, the police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, claimed he was unaware of the incident. Later, however, he confirmed that the newspaper staff had been detained by the Anti-Narcotics Unit but provided no explanation for the arrests. He added that all those detained had since been released.

The raid has sparked outrage among journalists and media advocates, who see this as a direct attack on press freedom. Owerri-based journalist Austin Agunonu condemned the incident, describing it as “uncivil and discouraging.” He pointed out that journalists in Imo State have been supportive of the police’s efforts to tackle insecurity, making this action even more concerning.

The incident highlights a growing trend of media harassment in Imo State, where journalists are increasingly targeted without proper procedures or justification. Many have called on authorities to respect press freedom and ensure that journalists can perform their duties without fear of intimidation or arbitrary arrests.

This raid serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by journalists in Nigeria and the importance of protecting their rights to ensure accountability and transparency in governance.