The Patriotism Advancement and Community Orientation Network (PACON) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of citizens journalist in Bayelsa state Mr. Jones Abiri, publisher of Weekly Insight newspaper who was whisked away by unknown gunmen for the second time within 3 years in yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital.
Mr. Abiri who was arrested in similar fashion in 2016 after making a publication on 10th July same year on Weekly Insight newspaper with the caption “Gov Dickson Bad Policies Wreck Bayelsa” was only released on August 2018 after spending 2 years in Department of State Security (DSS) detention.
As a possible build up to his arrest yesterday, Mr. Abiri has been critical of the Bayelsa state government. Worthy of mention is that on the 26th of March, 2019, Mr. Abiri posted to his Facebook wall “Gov Dickson Free Education Policy A Mirage?” alleging the Free Education policy by the state government to be a hoax.
2 days later, on the 28th of March, Mr. Abiri made another post to his Facebook wall as a follow up to his 26th of March post attaching receipts from ‘Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare’ as proof that parents are being charged to pay various levies as school fees in public primary and secondary schools.
Mr. Abiri was abducted on 30th March, 2019 during a meet up with friends and colleagues by unknown gunmen who forced him into a waiting vehicle at gun point.
Aluzu Ebikebuna Augustine
Arch-Convener
For: PACON
