SaharaReporters earlier identified him as “John”.
The Nigerian police authorities have released a second journalist with Agence France-Presse (AFP), John Okunyomih, who was detained while covering the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest.
SaharaReporters earlier identified him as “John”.
Okunyomih was manhandled and assaulted by security operatives who also damaged his camera and other working gadgets.
Speaking to SaharaReporters shortly after his release, the journalist narrated how he was arrested while covering the protest near the Transcorp Hilton area of the Federal Capital Territory.
“I have been released. They damaged my camera, seized my mobile phone, and forcefully removed my gas mask,” he said.
“I was covering the protest near Transcorp Hilton when they came and arrested me. It took the intervention of my office before I was released. They cautioned them not to touch any journalists.”
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the police arrested two AFP journalists—an American, Nicholas Roll, and a Nigerian identified as John—while they were covering the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.
However, while Nick was released earlier, John Okunyomih remained in detention.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the police had arrested Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, and his brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, over the ongoing #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja.
Confirming the development, human rights activist and convener of the Take It Back Movement, Omoyele Sowore, demanded their immediate release by the Nigerian police authorities.
“The PoliceNG team deployed to brutalize #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protesters arrested Nnamdi Kanu’s brother, and his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, as well as innocent bystanders,” he posted on his social media handles Monday.
“We’ve just been arrested. Myself, Prince Emanuel and others. We are at FCT COMMAND CID. Myself, Fine Boy and others. No 1 Zaria Street, Gariki 2, Abuja,” Ejimakor also posted on Monday morning.
This is the instruction illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun gave his bulldog @FCT_PoliceNG new commissioner, Miller Dantawaye to do, he was told to violate and brutalize journalists, protesters and anyone engaging in #FreeNnameiKanuNow protest. Here is his policemen roughhandling @AFP… pic.twitter.com/lQBBfgtyJS — Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) October 20, 2025
