Ebonyi Governor, Umahi Orders Arrest of Journalist Over Facebook Posts about Nigerian Politicians, Army

The police in Ebonyi State acting on the orders of the state governor, David Umahi, have detained a journalist, Godfrey Chikwere over his Facebook posts.

SaharaReporters gathered that Chikwere was arrested by the police during the weekend following a petition by the government accusing him of “hate speech, incisive publication and cyberbullying.”

“I write to inform your esteemed office as follows: That on the 8th day of October 2021 at about 14:44 hours, one Godfrey Chikwere with phone number 080615707** did publish fake news and incisive post in a Facebook profile called Godfrey Chikwere and other media platforms and stated as follows: Nigerian Army is seriously and willingly losing respect.

“That on the same 8th of October, 2021, Godfrey Chikwere in the Facebook profile made a dangerous and disturbing publication and stated as follows: ‘They (politicians) can pay a youth to murder a perceived political enemy but they can’t give such youth money to start a business.’

“That this false, fake and incisive publication is intended to cause fear, cyberbullying, riot crisis and breach of the peace in the state,” a petition signed by Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information, Orji Uchenna Orji to the police commissioner read.

Already, aggrieved youths and activists in the state are organizing a protest to demand the freedom of Chikwere.

They also lambasted the Nigerian Union of Journalists for keeping mute while its member is being persecuted by the state government despite the guarantee for the freedom of speech in Nigeria's constitution.

“Make una free this young man Godfrey Chikwere is high time government occupy (sic) themselves with relevant issues in the society instead of pursuing shadows. His arrest will end in futility#FREE CHIKWERE Now!!,” a Facebook user, Richard Nwafor posted.

An activist, Apst. Benjazy Nweke Oyenge said, “Don't blame the governor of Ebonyi state for signing the law against fake news, blame your house of assembly members who allow (sic) the said law pass through all the necessary proceedings knowing fully well that it will be used against those who criticize or speak against any wrong governmental decision against the citizens.

“The present-day House of Assembly in Ebonyi state is so interested in their personal gain from his Excellency forgetting their constituents who elected them to represent them. The ongoing arrest in Ebonyi state is nothing but a political fight against any perceived political opposition member in the state.

“Those that passed the bill into law should not forget that they will not remain in ruling party forever, tomorrow the same law may land on their skull for speaking against the government in power.

“Godfrey Chikwere is a law-abiding citizen and should not be held captive for expressing his fundamental human right which is freedom of speech except we don't have such law again in Ebonyi state. It is only a military government that will not accept criticism, but in a democratic setting, criticism is one of the instruments of good governance.

"A reasonable government take correction from criticism and not otherwise. #FreeGodfreyChikwere.”