Operatives of the Department of State Services on Friday stormed the home of a staff of OrderPaper, Edna Ulaeto, and whisked her away.
The whisking away of the newspaper staff, who was yet to be released as at press time, was confirmed by the management on Friday.
According to a statement by the management of OrderPaper, the DSS operatives were said to have identified themselves as being from the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The statement said the DSS operatives, who did not offer any reason for taking away Ulaeto, were also unsparing of her neighbours.
The statement said: “The young lady, still in her casual nightwear, was violently manhandled and whisked away to an unknown destination, leaving her family and neighbours in shock and fear.
“Shockingly, it has come to light that her phone number was illegally tracked, a tactic typically reserved for dangerous criminals, not innocent media staff.
“OrderPaper suspects this cruel and unjust act is connected to a recent news article that mistakenly reported on an alleged DSS invasion of the National Assembly, supposedly to block an attempt to impeach the Senate President.
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“Despite immediately issuing a retraction and public apology, masked men broke into her home, tore through her personal belongings, and caused immense trauma to her and her family.
“Neighbours who attempted to follow or capture the horrifying event were shoved aside, with some forced to delete photos and videos under the threat of arrest.
“No official notice or invitation was ever sent to the individual or OrderPaper by the DSS or police, raising serious concerns of foul play.
“Since the abduction, all efforts to reach her have failed, intensifying fears for her safety.
“This brazen, terrifying act has left the entire staff of OrderPaper living in fear, uncertain of what may happen next.
“We urgently call on the public, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and the international community to demand her immediate release and to ensure her safety.
“Join us in condemning this unlawful attack on press freedom and basic human rights before it is too late.”
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