SARS officials allegedly arrest journalist, Dan Elombah, for writing an article criticizing President Buhari

Exclusive
reports from Anambra state this morning reveals that Mr. Daniel Elombah
have just been arrested this morning in his house by men from Federal
State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). 

 

He
was arrested and manhandled along with 4 his brothers and 2 other
relations who were all in his house while they were watching President
Muhamadu Buhari’s new year address to the nation in his country home
residence in Nnewi Anambra State. 

 

An
eye witness who pleaded anonymity confirmed that the ace online
publisher who resides in the United Kingdom was only home for the
holidays only to become the latest victim of state brutality as he was
almost bundled naked into the SARS vehicle and taken to an unknown
destination. 

 

“They
are all in handcuffs Mr. Daniel Elombah, 4 of his brothers and 2 other
relatives who were found in his residence have all been taken away along
with him”, the witness reported.

 

The eye witness was able to confirm that there was
heavy gunshots in his house probably to scare away any potential
intervention from neighbors and that the SARS team even threatened to
waste them if they resisted arrest.

 

One
of the police officers on ground said it was an order from above and
that they don’t know what offences either Mr. Daniel Elombah or his
brothers may have committed to warrant the arrest.

 

This
probably confirms that the arrest of Mr. Daniel Elombah may have
reportedly emanated from the Inspector General of Police as his personal
effects, laptops and mobile phones including those belonging to his
family members were all confiscated by the rampaging SARS officers who
were allegedly seen jumping into Mr. Daniel Elombah’s compound through
the fenced walls by eye witnesses.

 

It
is worthy of note that this commando style of arrest by the SARS
operatives who have recently been under severe scrutiny in recent times
over several documented cases of intimidation, extortion, high
handedness and in some cases extra judicial state execution by the law
enforcement agents have attracted strong criticisms from Nigerians
prominent amongst them is Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, which has
made the IGP to promise several sweeping reforms that will lead to the
reorganisation of the Nigeria police special unit.

 

As
at the time of filing this report Mr. Dan Elombah and his group have
been moved away from SARS office at Nnewi as they are presumably being
taken to SARS headquaters at Awkuzu, Anambra state.

 

Several
questions are been asked at this moment by other prominent online media
observers who wished to know what what the Nigeria Police SARS is doing
in a non robbery matter. Could it be that Mr. Dan is now among the list
of wanted person by Nigerian government over his nonpartisan, critical
and objective outlook to happenings and events in the country from his
diaspora perspective? Or is he been hounded because of the vociferous
nature of his online website elombah.com which has been one of the most credible and reliable online platforms in the country today.

 

As it stands elombah.com
is currently under attack and this is becoming a clear case of
unwarranted media intimation as nobody knows which other online media
platforms would be the next.

 

According
to Daniel Elombah’s wife there was no prior notice or invitation from
any government security agency before this invasion and subsequent
arrest which indicates that this could clearly be another form of media
intimidation by state authorities.

 

All we know is that Federal SARS picked him up this morning commando style, on the purported order from the IG of police.