The Secretary of Everybody Must Serve (EMS), Abuja Chapter, ElShammah S. Manasseh, has condemned in strong terms the arrest and assault of Chronicle Reporters journalist, Manasseh B. Paul, allegedly at the instigation of Mr. Ezekiel, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chairmanship Candidate in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Manasseh described the incident as “a direct assault on democracy, press freedom, and the conscience of Nigeria.”
According to reports, the journalist was arrested and beaten by officers of the Gwagwalada Police Division, allegedly acting on the orders of Mr. Ezekiel, after publishing an investigative report exposing financial impropriety involving the APGA candidate and the Area Council Chairman.
“This is not merely an attack on one individual,” Manasseh declared. “It is a direct assault on democracy, press freedom, and the very conscience of Nigeria. The courage of journalists like Manasseh Paul to speak truth to power is what sustains any hope for accountability in our society — and yet, those in power seek to silence him through violence and intimidation.”
Manasseh, who spoke on behalf of EMS, called the incident a violation of both national and international laws protecting freedom of expression and human dignity, citing multiple legal provisions including Sections 34, 35, and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantee human dignity, personal liberty, and freedom of the press.
He also referenced the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Article 9) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 19), both of which protect journalists from harassment and ensure the right to seek and share information without interference.
“By orchestrating an assault and unlawful detention, Mr. Ezekiel and the officers involved have violated Nigerian law and abused the power entrusted to them by the people,” he said.
“This brutality represents a gross violation of the rule of law. It is part of a broader pattern of silencing dissent and intimidating the press in Nigeria.”
Manasseh demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the detained journalist, a transparent investigation by the Inspector-General of Police, and accountability for all officers and political actors involved in the incident.
He further called on civil society, human rights organizations, and media associations to stand in solidarity with the assaulted reporter and to resist attempts to suppress investigative journalism in Nigeria.
“Every journalist attacked weakens the voice of the people,” Manasseh said. “Every act of intimidation emboldens corruption. Every unjust arrest erodes democracy.”
Quoting revolutionary figures including Fela Kuti, Thomas Sankara, and Malcolm X, Manasseh urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to rise against oppression and defend press freedom as a cornerstone of democracy.
“Silence in the face of oppression is complicity,” he warned. “The courage to speak truth to power is sacred. Let no tyrant, no corrupt official, and no police officer undermine it.”
As of press time, efforts by Chronicle Reporters to reach Mr. Ezekiel and the Gwagwalada Police Division for comments were unsuccessful.