The International Press Centre for the Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ), Lagos-Nigeria has enjoined the Rivers State Government and the security agencies to ensure the safety of Joshua Rogers, a Channels TV Television who was abducted on Thursday night.
Mr Rogers was kidnapped at Rumuosi in Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State at about 9 pm after he was trailed to his house and accosted while returning from work. The kidnappers have, however, reached out to his wife demanding an N30 million naira ransom.
In a statement on Friday, Melody Akinjiyan, the Press Freedom Officer, IPC that the insecurity in the country is a cause for concern and appealed to other national, regional and international media freedom groups to join the call clamouring for his release.
The statement reads; “IPC’s Centre for the Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ), Lagos-Nigeria is calling for a concerted effort towards the immediate release of Channels TV reporter, Joshua Rogers, who was whisked away to an unknown place by gunmen around 9p.m on Thursday, April 11, 2024, close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port-Harcourt.
“Information reaching, I-CSPJ reveals that, “Joshua Rogers was driving his official Channels Television branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.”
“Rogers was said to be returning from his official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for a government event when the incident happened.
“Already, the gunmen were said to have contacted his wife and demanded a N30million ransom for his release, the report revealed.”
“IPC Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said: “The spate of insecurity in the country should be of serious concern to all adding that it is very disturbing that journalists and media practitioners have also become easy targets.”
“I-CSPJ enjoins the Rivers State Government and relevant security agencies to do all they can to ensure that Joshua Rogers is set free without being harmed in any way.
“I-CSPJ therefore appeals to other national, regional and international media freedom groups, freedom of expression organisations and human rights bodies to join in the clamour for his release and safety.
SGD:
melodyakinjiyan@ipcng.org
