Operatives of the Imo State Police command have invaded the office of Nigeria Watchdog Newspaper, a State-based tabloid, and arrested its Deputy Editor Martin Opara, and some Reporters.
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Precious Nwadike, said the company could not figure out the rationale for the police invasion.
The command’s public relations officer, however, did not disclose to Journalists the reason behind the arrest but confirmed that the arrested persons have been released.
Following the development, Journalists have condemned the action of the police, describing it as an attempt to muzzle media practice in the State.
An Owerri-based Journalist, Austin Agunonu, described the action of the police as uncivil and discouraging, given that journalists in the State have been at the forefront in assisting the police to fight insecurity.
He wondered why the police in the State recently formed the habit of invading people’s homes and offices to arrest them without officially inviting them.