In a shocking turn of events, the Secretary of the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Bunmi Adigun, has recounted how he was allegedly arrested and unlawfully detained by the Police Area Commander of Zone 2, Abeokuta, ACP Ogundele Olorunwa, after seeking police assistance to restore sanity around the Union Secretariat.

Adigun said what began as a simple civic effort to curb persistent nuisance, caused by individuals, particularly commercial sex workers, who have turned the NUJ Secretariat’s vicinity at Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, into a hub of indecent activity, quickly degenerated into what he described as “a night of humiliation and abuse of power.”

According to him, after drawing the attention of the police to a defiant woman causing disturbances near the Secretariat, he was stunned when the situation was turned against him. Upon realizing his identity, the Area Commander allegedly accused him of sharing on Facebook a Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) report that mentioned the officer’s name.

 “I was arrested for doing the right thing,” Adigun stated. “Instead of maintaining order, the Area Commander used his position to settle a personal score. I was detained for hours, questioned about my social media activities, and forced to write a statement, all because I had once shared a legitimate news story about him. This is not policing; this is vendetta.”

The incident has since triggered outrage within the Ogun NUJ Council, which described the act as a flagrant abuse of police authority and a gross violation of human rights.

In a statement signed by the Council Chairman, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju, the Union condemned the Area Commander’s actions as unlawful, vindictive, and unbecoming of a senior law enforcement officer. It demanded an immediate investigation and appropriate sanctions.

“This is a disturbing pattern of misconduct that cannot be ignored,” the statement read. “Our Secretary sought police support to address a public nuisance, only to be detained out of personal malice. It is a disgraceful abuse of office.”

The Council also noted that ACP Olorunwa currently has a pending case before the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), a situation it said raises further questions about his professional integrity.

The NUJ called on the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, to take urgent action to restore public confidence and discipline within the command.

 “We hold the police in high regard and enjoy a cordial working relationship with officers of integrity in Ogun State. However, the misconduct of one officer must not be allowed to tarnish the image of the entire force,” the statement added.

Reaffirming its commitment to defending press freedom, the NUJ warned that it would not tolerate any form of intimidation, harassment, or unlawful detention of journalists.

 “This is bigger than one person. It’s about accountability, justice, and the right of journalists to work without fear. Ogun NUJ stands firmly with Comrade Bunmi Adigun and will pursue this matter until justice is served,” the Council concluded.