Imo Journalists kick as Police arrest colleague over alleged cyber crime
Operatives from the Imo state Police command have arrested a journalist and activist, Theodore Nonson Uba popularly known as Nonsonkwa, over alleged cyber stalking.
Nonsonkwa was said to have been arrested in front of Teachers House along Port Harcourt road in Imo on Sunday evening.
A statement by the Police Spokesperson in the state, Henry Okoye, in Owerri, on Monday, disclosed that NonsoNkwa was arrested for alleged cyberstalking, character defamation, misinformation and civic unrest, following a petition to the police by an unnamed person.
Full text of the statement said,
“Imo: Police Arrest Nonsonkwa For Cyberstalking, Character Defamation, Misinformation And Inciting Civil Unrest
“Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have arrested Mr. Chinonso Uba (Nonsonkwa) on October 20, 2024, following a written petition from a concerned citizen regarding viral videos, where he engaged in Cyberstalking, Character Defamation, spreading misinformation and inflammatory statements related to the burning of the National Open University (NOUN) Study Center in Nsu, Ehime Mbano LGA, on September 30, 2024 and inciting civil unrest.
“The Command clarifies that he was not abducted. Nonsonkwa is currently detained at State Headquarters and will be arraigned in court with appropriate charges once a comprehensive investigation is completed.
“The Command remains committed to upholding the rule of law and maintaining peace and order in the state, emphasizing that no individual involved in the tragic attack and burning of the NOUN study center will escape full legal consequences.”
ASP OKOYE HENRY
Police Public Relations Officer For: Commissioner of Police Imo State Command.
Since his arrest, journalists in Imo state have criticised the manner Nonsonkwa was arrested.
This paper recalled that last month a television station had aired a report in which the National Commission for Refugees was said to have been planning to use the study centre of the National Open University of Nigeria ( NOUN) to rehabilitate internally displaced persons.
The report, misconstrued to mean that the IDPs would be those from other parts of the country because of the footage of IDPs used in the background, had enraged not only Imo citizens, but entire people from the Eastern region both at home and in the Diaspora.
Nonsonkwa in various posts had alerted authorities on dangers of the reports and the misinterpretation and misrepresentations by a cross section of Netizens.
The TV report led to the burning of the entire complex of NOUN study Centre at Nsu in Ehime Mbano local government area of the state and adjoining buildings said to be used as skill acquisition centre. The facility is said to be owned by a prominent indigene of the community.
In their separate reactions, Imo journalists and activists have called for Nonsonkwa’s release.
An activist cum journalist, Chidiebube Okeoma, has urged the leadership of the police in Imo state to release the journalist..
Okeoma condemned the way and manner the ace broadcast journalist was arrested, fueling speculation that he was abducted by criminals.
Okeoma also advised the police to ensure that NonsoNkwa’s rights are not violated while in their custody and he shouldn’t be held longer than necessary before arraigning him.
Okeoma said, “Firstly, I condemn the way and manner Chinonso Uba was arrested in Owerri on Sunday. The unprofessional process fuelled speculation that he was kidnapped and people went to town with such misinformation, thereby escalating the security status of the state.
“As a law abiding institution, the police ought to had extended an invitation to him since the media unit of the command says that an unnamed individual wrote a petition against him.
“While it is part of the constitutional responsibilities of the police to arrest and investigate issues and people, I call on the police to respect NonsoNkwa’s constitutional and civic rights while in their custody.
“NonsoNkwa should be given maximum access to his lawyers, family members and his colleagues. He shouldn’t also be held longer than necessary before arraigning him. Doing so will be against his rights and privileges as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“This will be another win for Nonso Nkwa. He will come out stronger. Journalists can’t be bullied into submission in this state or any other state of the federation. Journalists will continue to speak truth to power. The constitution recognizes journalists as the watchdogs of the society.”
Vanguard and ThisDay Correspondents, Chidi Nkwopara and Amby Uneze also condemned the manner of Nonsonkwa’s arrest and called for due diligence in handling the matter.
Uneze said, “This is unacceptable. The Police should try to be civil in some of their operations. Nonsokwa is a well known media practitioner in Imo State and Nigeria as well as an activist. If there is any cause the law enforcement agency has against him, he should be invited with dignity and not to be treated like a common criminal. It is high time the Imo State Police command stop this type of embarrassment.
“What is wrong in exposing the ills of some of the police officers. As per the Nsu Mbano episode, this activist only alerted the people of the State based on the news clip of TVC. He did not initiate it. So I think the TVC station and crew should also be treated the same way Nonsokwa is being treated by the police. This police action should stop.
In his own reaction, Nkwopara while thanking the police image maker for finally putting the issue of Nonsonkwa’s purported abduction to rest by disclosing that that he was arrested by the police, called for the arrest of the station that aired the report in the first place.
He said, “My own dear brother and friend, thanks for confirming that the police arrested Nonso.
In line with the principle of fairness and justice to all, I hope that the TVC reporter and Editors are equally in police net? Those who packaged the TVC news, need to tell the police why they streamed the offensive film clip, while relaying the Ezeoke Nsu story.
“If they are with the police, were they picked in the same manner as Nonso?
If the police fail to hold the originators of the telecast to account for the news packaging, then something must be wrong somewhere. My prayer is that there should be no selective treatment in this case.”
