By 
…Media Groups Condemn Abduction
By Bisi LAWAL
Gunmen that abducted a reporter with Channels Television, Joshua Rogers who covers the Rivers State Government House, reportedly contacted his wife and asked for N30m as ransom for his release.
Rogers who was kidnapped at his residence in Rumuosi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday night, was trailed by his attackers after he closed from work to his residence.
They reportedly accosted him before he alighted from his car. They were said to have pointed a gun at him and whisked him along with his vehicle off to an unknown destination at about 9 pm.
An unnamed source reportedly said: “Yes, he was kidnapped last night at his residence in Rumuosi and taken away in his car by some unknown gunmen.
“We are appealing to the kidnappers to release him immediately and unhurt. He is just a journalist doing his job and not a moneybag. So, I don’t know the purpose of his kidnap.”
Meanwhile, in a press statement jointly signed by the Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro Journalists Forum, Rivers State Chapter President, Philip Awajioboro and Allwell Ene, its Secretary said, “The Forum frowns at and views his abduction as not only barbaric but a threat to journalism practice in Nigeria.
“We therefore call on the Nigeria Police and indeed all security agencies to without delay ensure the release of our member Joshua Rogers unhurt.
“We also urge his abductors to release him unconditionally without any iota of delay.
Similarly, the Andoni Practicing Journalists Association, APJA, said it received with shock the report of the kidnap of Rogers Joshua who is its Public Relations Officer,PRO.
The group in a press statement jointly signed by Reuben Okwa and Francis Golden said, “To think that Joshua who was kidnapped at his Port Harcourt residence was whisked away upon return from an official assignment on Thursday night is barbaric and senseless”.
The group said it is highly regrettable that journalists, who are always at the forefront in the battle for social change, accountability, transparency in governance and social justice are victims of the vices they stood against.
The group called on law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to secure the release of Joshua Rogers from his abductors.
APJA stated further that the abduction of Joshua has heightened the call on government at all levels to ensure the protection of Journalists while carrying out their legitimate responsibility as watch dogs of society.
Comments