Governor Hope Uzodinma arrest Journalist Nonso Nkwa for criticism

Governor Hope Uzodinma arrest journalist for criticism: FREE NONSO NKWA UNCONDITIONALLY NOW! The Hope Uzodinma government of Imo state is becoming more and more tyrannical on daily basis given his intolerance for voices of dissents and clampdown on freedom of information and expression as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution. The Imo state governor through the Nigerian police yesterday arrested a seasoned journalist and human rights defender Theodore Chinonso Uba, also known as Nonso Nkwa because of his criticism against the Imo state government anti people's policies and programmes. A statement issued by the Nigerian Human Rights Coalition called for the unconditional release of Theodore Nonso Uba by the police and to "drop all charges against him, and cease further efforts to intimidate him and his family", the Coalition said today. " Mr Uba, a journalist and radio presenter who is also the Coordinator of ‘’Protect the Weak International Foundation (PROWIF), a human rights group based in Owerri, Imo state was abducted yesterday on his way from work at Osisa FM radio station". According to several eyewitnesses, Mr Uba was abducted at about 11 am yesterday by several masked men in two vehicles in front of Maria Assumpta Cathedral church in Owerri, Imo state on his way home from work. He was reportedly taken to the Criminal Investigative Department(CID) of the Imo state police command on the order of Governor Hope Uzodinma, " It is believed he is currently detained at the Police Force Headquarters Owerri". “Nigerian authorities should immediately release journalist Theodore Chinonso Uba and drop all charges against him. No journalist should be intimidated or arrested because of his work. The Nigerian police have too often proven brazenly willing to flout the law to intimidate the press.” The Imo state based Nigerian Human Rights Coalition are " convinced that Nonso Nkwa is being targeted for his work as a journalist, his criticism of the Imo state government as well as the spate of killings by both state and non-state actors in the Imo state" Nonso Nkwa has in the past faced constant threats and intimidation from security agents and the Imo state government officials for his human rights advocacy. It should be recalled that "In July 2022, Mr. Nonso Nkwa cried out about his safety, accusing security agents of coming after him after his radio station Osisa Fm was shut down by the Federal Government and his house surrounded by security agents". The incident came after the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) shut down the radio station on the order of Imo state government for reporting the July 17 killing of 14 wedding guests in Awomama in Oru East Local Government Area of the state by the Imo state security outfit, Ebubeagu