Theatrics in Umuahia as police attempt to whisk journalist to Abuja for alleged defamation

A journalist and former Deputy local government chairman of Bende LGA, Promise Uzoma Okoro, has escaped being arrested and taken to Abuja by men of the Nigeria Police Force from the FCID, Abuja.

Okoro, who is the present Chairman of Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OPMAN), Abia State chapter, was to be arrested weekend and taken to Abuja by security personnel, on the allegations that he published defamatory material against an individual.

But speaking on Monday about the failed arrest, Okoro explained that it was the intervention of Commissioner of Police Abia State Command, Danladi Isa and members of Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN) that stopped the Abuja policemen from whisking him away.

He slammed the officers involved in the job, expressing surprise that no prior notice was given to him by the police personnel before they stormed Umuahia to pick him.

The former Deputy local government Chairman who accused his enemies of attempting to use police to jail him through a kangaroo process, said a similar attempt was made recently to eliminate his life through a failed spiritual attack.

“Police left Abuja to come down to Umuahia to arrest me over an alleged case of defamation without any prior invitation. Any attempt to intimidate me with any security agency in Nigeria will fail,” Okoro said.

While appreciating the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, Police Spokesperson in Abia State, ASP Maureen Chinaka for their professionalism, respect for rule of law and laid down procedures, he warned against any attempt to breach the existing relationship between media professionals and the police.

Meanwhile, members of OMPAN in Abia State, on Monday, accompanied their Chairman, Okoro, to the Police Command headquarters, Umuahia, to officially report the conduct of the Police personnel from Abuja. [Newspot]