The police on Friday fired live ammunition on members of Kwara Online Media Practitioners (ASKOMP) and other journalists peacefully protesting against the illegal detention of their colleagues.

The Kwara police command detained Sobi FM Editor Dare Akogun and his brother, AbdulRasheed Akogun after inviting them for an investigation into a petition written by Rafiu Ajakaye, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Mr Ajakaiye had accused the duo for inciting the public against the government and for defaming his person.

The online media team, who came in large numbers, stormed the police headquarters in Ilorin with placards bearing different prescriptions, calling for the release of their colleagues.

A NAN correspondent who covered the protest reports that the police fired teargas at the protesters in order to disperse them.

Meanwhile, the defendants have been charged to court for prosecution.

Two members of the ASKOMP, Sherif Gold and Rilwan Ajadi, who were mercilessly assaulted and arrested by the police, have also been charged to court for prosecution.

The spokesman of the command, Okasanmi Ajayi, in a statement, had earlier debunked the story contained in an online publication by ASKOMP.

He said the report was published mainly to attract an undue and unmerited sympathy of members of the public by the two suspects over an alleged incitement, defamation and cyber bullying case capable of sparking violence in the state.

“As contained in a petition written by one Rafiu Ajakaiye, the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor.

“The case is being investigated by operatives attached to the State CID of the command.

“The suspects, one Abdbulrasheed Akogun and Dare Akogun, were brought before the Commissioner of Police, CP Paul Odama, where the duo confessed to the authorship of the offensive and criminal accusations against the persons of the Governor and the petitioner in the presence of their lawyers and some members of the press.

“The CP made it known to the suspects after interviewing them on the offensive write up which they published on some WhatsApp groups and which they confessed to.

“The CP told the suspects of the seriousness and consequences of their actions.

“He advised the duo to make peace with the complainant and seek for ways of settling the matter by apologising to the petitioner since they are all of the same pen profession, and that he would have no option than to charge the two of them to court.

“To the chagrin of the CP, the suspects accepted the option of being charged to court as according to them they have enough evidence against the petitioner to prove their case in court.

“Meanwhile, the allegation of bias alleged against the Commissioner of Police is baseless, unfounded and opportunistic.

“The suspects felt they have the instrument of blackmail they could deploy to tarnish the image of the CP, which is the social media, hence their resolve to go online with the story of bias to curry the sympathy of their readers which has fallen flat on arrival.

“Finally, the Command wishes to state that, it would always uphold the truth at all times and discharge its duty diligently and in line with global best practices devoid of bias, intimidation and favouritism.” 

(NAN)