Port harcourt—A media rights group, Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ, and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, have called for the immediate release of Vanguard newspaper columnist, Donu Kogbara, who was kidnapped by gunmen from her home in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
It urged Nigerian authorities to do their utmost to find Kogbara, establish a motive for the abduction and apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators, adding that she had worked for Vanguard newspaper for some 30 years, as well as for the BBC, Channel 4, theSunday Times and The Mail.CPJ, a New York-based rights group in a statement, yesterday by its West African representative, Peter Nkanga, said, “We condemn the kidnapping of Donu Kogbara and call on Nigerian authorities to launch an immediate and efficient investigation.”
Similarly, NUPENG, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, condemned the kidnap of Kogbara, and called on the kidnappers to release her immediately and unconditionally.
The union in a statement by its President, Mr. Igwe Achese, expressed disappointment at the security agencies for their inability to rescue the columnist after a week in captivity.
The statement, said “NUPENG wants the kidnappers to release Donu Kogbara unhurt as she is neither a politician nor a rich lady but just a Journalist writing to make the society a better place to live in. The union advises the kidnappers to release Donu Kogbara without ransom and give respect to womanhood.
“NUPENG blames the security apparatus in Rivers State for not being pro-active in responding fast to track the kidnappers and their victim. The union calls on the Police, the DSS, Navy and the Intelligence Agency to spread their dragnet and get her released from the abductors.
“NUPENG is also worried and concerned about the security challenges in Okrika, Rivers State and calls on the Nyesom Wike led administration in Rivers State, the JTF, Police, and DSS to arrest the current security challenge in Okrikaland”
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