The publisher/Editor-in Cheif, Daily Watch publications, Mr. Cletus Opukeme, has called on the Inspector General of Police Mr. Mohammed Adamu to hold Niger Delta minister Godswill Akpabio and the members of the NDDC Interim management committee responsible if anything happens to his life or that of his family members.
He disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen stating that IGP boys from Abuja traced him to the office of the NuJ in Warri and abducted Mr. Matthew Omonigho.
He said the adducted Ominigho later called revealing that he was dumped at the Area Commander’s office in Warri.
He said :
“The Union leadership sent a delegation to the police station to know why he was arrested and bundled away like a common criminal manhandled.
” The police instead of listening to the NUJ delegation confiscated all their phones and detained them also
“The Police told them that they were special squad from Abuja sent to arrest Mr. Cletus Opukeme, the Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief of Daily Watch.
” I want to categorically warn that the so-called crooked IGP paid boys and other security operatives should stay away from Daily Watch publications. That if Senator Godswill Akpabio or any other person feels aggrieved by our published stories, they know the right option which is to seek redress as the court is there for them to sue Daily Watch publisher and allow the judiciary to determine our publication it is libelous and defamatory. It is not the place of DSS,the IGP boy,s or any other security operatives to be used to intimidate Daily Watch over our genuine investigations which first exposed a large scale of financial misappropriation in NDDC. Senator Akpabio has turned NDDC to a cash cow looting the commonwealth of the people of Niger Delta and intimidation or arrest by IGP Boys /DSS cannot frighten us from doing what we know how to do best by informing the public the right information.
“The invasion of Warri NUJ office by the crooked IGP TEAM to arrest a journalist is an embarrassment to democracy in the country as journalists have freedom of expression enshrined on the nation’s constitution.
” If Akpabio is aggrieved by our publications for exposing his massive looting, he should go to court and stop intimidating me with the police and ex-militants to gag the press from doing our Constitutional duties.
” The said IG squad called one of the arrested journalists to direct them to Cletus Opukeme’s residence who identified himself as Reuben with mobile phone number:08116912068 quoting the reporter ”One Mr. Reuben just called now requesting to know if I have been able to see Cletus. I told him that he only called me this morning wherein I asked him to be at the Area Command with me in solidarity and he refused. Again, he asked if I know any link with which they could get him and I said No. He later cut the call”
” the same similar threats were being made by unidentified members over campaign against Akpabio’s massive looting by Izanzan which after a protest made against Akpabio and his NDDC IMC within a week assassins shot dead the vibrant and resourceful spokesman Comrade Famous Believe on the 18th May 2020 which police is investigating the murderers till now,” Opukeme noted.
Thank you for taking your time in reading through our Journal Today. We wish to always provide you with qualitative Stories as far as GOOD-JOURNALISM is CONCERN. But good journalism costs a lot of money and only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, accountability democracy and a transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism, we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble profession .
