Ebonyi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has demanded for the immediate release of the council chairman, Comrade Tony Nwizi.
Nwizi was arrested at the wee hours of Saturday, June 4, 2020 at his Abakaliki residence by police detectives from Enugu state.
The arrest was said to be directive from Inspector General of Police and his crime that warranted such harassment has not been stated by the police.
It was scooped that there was a petition against state council chairman but police have refused to reveal the content of the said petition.
In a statement signed by the state vice chairman of the council, Mr. Benjamin Nworie, it was Nwizi’s wife that informed his husband’s colleagues of the ugly incident.
It reads: “we received a distress Call from the wife of chairman of the Council, Mrs Joy Tony Nwizi, that armed squad stormed their residence in Abakaliki at about 6:30 am on Saturday and whisked her Husband, Comrade Tony Nwizi away.
”According to skechy information given by the Squad, the arrest was said to be a directive from the Inspector General of Police over an undisclosed petition against the Ebonyi NUJ chairman.
“The Council therefore notes with dismay that the gestapo arrest of the chairman in such brazen violation of his fundamental human rights is highly condemnnable. It’s more worrisome and embarrassing as the sting operation was skechy to the Ebonyi State Police Command, whose disposition to the incident when some members of the Union visited the command gave no hope on the true identity and purpose of the arrest.
“The unfortunate arrest of Comrade Tony Nwizi is highly condemnnable worsened by the fact that his arrest was shrouded by uncertainties as officers on duty at the Area command actually confirmed that the armed squad refused to identify themselves or present warrant of arrest.
“This ugly development fueled suspicion that it was a clear case of abduction.
“Ebonyi State Council of NUJ condemn the gestapo arrest of our chairman, comrade Tony Nwizi and therefore call for his immediate release.
