By Florence Uwaeme
The Coalition For Women In Journalism has expressed joy over the release of Priestba Nwokocha, the Director of News of the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation.
The Women Journalists also applauded the police for acting swiftly by launching a manhunt.
They, however, expressed worry over the frequency of abductions of journalists in the country, describing it as alarming.
The group noted that Kidnappers must be brought to justice and urged police and prosecutors to identify and arrest those responsible for Nwockocha’s abduction.
According to the group “The Coalition For Women In Journalism is deeply concerned by the frequency of abductions of women journalists in Nigeria. We urge police to deploy all available resources to ensure press safety.
“Several journalists in Nigeria have been abducted in recent years. In 2021, CFWIJ documented the abductions of two women journalists, Chidiebere Onyia and Amra Ahmed Diska.
“The kidnapping of reporter Chidiebere Onyia also occurred in the area of Port Harcourt. The journalist was abducted at gunpoint but, following mounting public pressure, was abandoned by her kidnappers and reunited with her family five days later.
“In May 2021, Amra Ahmed Diska – news editor at Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) — was abducted from her home leaving her six-month-old baby alone. She was released after seven days, following the payment of a ransom to her kidnappers.
“In March 2023, police rescued journalist Seun Oduneye from his kidnappers after a gun battle. The abductors had demanded a ransom from the journalist’s wife. In 2022, two journalists for Enugu State Broadcasting Services were attacked and briefly abducted when covering local elections in Enugu”.
On July 21, journalist Priest Nwockocha was abducted while returning home from work after her car broke down on the Slaughter/YKC route in Port Harcourt.
The news director for Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Rivers) called her husband for help. He soon arrived to repair the vehicle along with a mechanic.
Around 8 pm, while her husband and mechanic were working on the car, a group stopped and, at gunpoint, forced Nwockocha to come with them.
“They just picked her and left; they didn’t pick her husband or hurt him,” a family member told TPCN.
The next day, Nwockocha’s husband said the kidnappers contacted him, telling him to pay N150 million (over $190,000) for wife’s release. Later, the ransom demand was later lowered to N10 million (over $12,800).
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) strongly condemned her abduction, describing it as inhuman, wicked, and insensitive, especially considering that Nwokocha is a journalist working to improve society.
In response, the Commissioner of Police ordered a manhunt for her abductors. The CP also instructed all tactical teams of the command to ensure her safe return and reunite her with her family.
On July 27, after almost a week, Nwockocha was freed and returned home. It is unclear whether a ransom was paid for her release.
