By Dapo Akinrefon

ANGRY reactions yesterday, greeted the raid by the Nigeria Police on Premium Times head office in Abuja and the arrest of the newspaper’s publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi  alongside the paper’s judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu.

Plain-clothed officers conducted search at the Premium Times office shortly after 5p.m, yesterday stating they were acting on a complaint filed by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai.

The arrests came days after Premium Times turned down the army’s demand to retract news stories about the Nigerian Army and its operations.

We are happy to announce that both @DapsyOly and @EveOkakwu have been released on bail. #FreeDapo #PressFreedom pic.twitter.com/z3v7Tgu3lj

— Premium Times (@PremiumTimesng) January 19, 2017

Dapo Olorunyomi and the paper’s judiciary correspondent, were released Thursday shortly before midnight according to a tweet from the media’s handle @PremiumTimesng.

In a statement the paper’s Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, who condemned the raid said: “They should stop deluding themselves that they can muzzle the press and intimidate Premium Times. They should know that our loyalty lies with our readers and the Nigerian people who have a right to know.”

Faulting the action of the police, Mojeed vowed that the paper will continue “to discharge its responsibilities in line with global best practices and patriotism, even at great risk to our personal liberties.”

Meanwhile, eminent Nigerians have described the raid and arrest as an act of intimidation just as they called for the release of the journalists.

PremiumTimes

It’s an act of  intimidation—NUJ president

Condmening the arrest, the National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Waheed Odusile, described the raid and the arrest as an act of intimidation and bad omen for practice of journalism in the country.

He said the arrest of the publisher along with the the paper’s judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu, is not the best way to treat any infraction if there was any at all, “was he ever invited by the police and he failed to turn up?”, he queried.

He said the union will issue a release today as he has not been able to get in touch with Dapo Olorunyomi since his arrest.

Afenifere condemns Police action

Also lampooning the Police, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere called for the unconditional release of the arrested journalists.

Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin said: “We should not give the impression that Nigeria is becoming a police state. If journalists publish things that are not true, there are civil ways of dealing with such. Olorunyomi and colleague should be released immediately and there should be an end to this gestapo operations.”