-No Invitation, Warrant of arrest
Some persons who later identified themselves as Policemen from Imo State Police Command yesterday stormed the Nigeria Watchdog office and whisked away the Deputy Editor, Elder Martin Opara and the Front Desk officer of the Newspaper whereby disrupting the Media House’s activities.
The Armed policemen, numbering over 10, said that they were directed by the Commissioner of Police, Aboki, to arrest everybody seen in the office.
The arrest was without any prior invitation to the media house.
At the time of filing this report, it was not known what office the Watchdog Staff committed to have warranted the arrest.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations officer, Okoye, said he was unaware of the arrest but promised to get back to this report when he confirmed what transpired between the Police and the Media House.
It was also gathered that the police did not extend any invitation to the management of the Nigeria Watchdog Newspaper company or present any warrant of arrest but chose to arrest them in a Gestapo style, leaving the neighbourhood in fear that those who came could be Kidnappers or Assasins.
Our source later learnt that the Watchdog Staff were held at Anti-Drug Unit of the State Command.
Recall that in recent times, the Imo State Police Command has claimed responsibility for the arrest of two major Critics of the Imo state government, Mazi Chinonso Uba and Dr Febian Ihekwueme, who are still in detention to date.
It was not clear if the government or its agent was behind the arrest of Watchdog Staff.
