Rights Groups Call For  Immediate Release Of Nonso Nkwa

Press Release: 29 May 2023

Nigerian police should immediately release human rights defender and journalist  Theodore Chinonso Uba, also known as Nonso Nkwa,  drop all charges against him, and cease further efforts to intimidate him and his family, the  Nigerian Human Rights 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 OsisaFM radio station

According to several eyewitnesses, Mr Uba was abducted at about 10 am yesterday by several masked men in three unmarked 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. It is believed he is currently detained at the Police Force Headquarters Abuja.

“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.”

We 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.

NonsoNkwa has in the past faced constant threats and intimidation from security agents and the Imo state government officials for his human rights advocacy.

In July 2022, Mr. NonsoNkwa cried out about his safety, accusing security agents of coming after him after his radio station OsisaFm 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

Sign:

1. Sterling Law Centre, Abuja
2. Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Lagos
3.   Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) Umuahia
4.   Everybody Must Serve Campaign For Human Right(EMS), Abuja
5.  Justice for Peace and Development Initiative (JPDI), Lagos
6. Nnaemeka Ejiofor & Associates
7. The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety),  Onitsha
8. Life Wire International Foundation, Benin City
9. International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative. Enugu
10. Enugu Network of Civil Society Organisations. Enugu
11.  Coalition of Civil Society Workers and Human Rights Defenders, Enugu
12. Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation, (HURSDEF), Port Harcourt
13. One love foundation. Benin City
14.  Nigerian Observatory For Human Rights, Abuja
15. African Centre for Media & Information Literacy(AFRICMIL) , Abuja