Mr. Daniel Elombah, the London-based online publisher of Elombah.com news blog has been released by the police force after he was arrested and transported to police headquarters in the wee hours of New Year’s Day in Nnewi, Anambra State by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS. No reason was given for his arrest and detention except the traditional ‘order from above’.
They arrested in Gestapo style after police shot severally into the air before whisking them away in the cover of pre-dawn darkness.
His freedom was courtesy of sustained pressure on the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim idris and the Nigerian government by members of the Online Publishers Association of Nigeria, OPAN, of which Daniel is the General Secretary, as well as bloggers, public affairs commentators, human rights and press freedom groups.
The Editor of the news website, Tim Elombah, who was also arrested however still remains in police custody.
Dozens of phone calls were placed to the direct number of the IGP on New Year Day after his private phone number was obtained and made public by OPAN, demanding the immediate release of the Elombahs.
The officers said they were acting based on “Orders from Above” as they handcuffed and bundled them into one of the vans and made their way back to Abuja.
Family sources said the Elombahs may press charges against the police and file for unlawful detention and arrest.
