Delta youths decry continuous detention of Fejiro Oliver
Concerned Youths of Delta State, led by Comrade Dr. Akima Umukoro Efemena, on Thursday, October 2, held a peaceful protest at the Delta State Government House in Asaba, calling on the Delta State Police Command to either release Journalist Fejiro Oliver unconditionally or charge him to court.
While addressing journalists at the protest, Comrade Umukoro said an accountability request from the Delta State government doesn’t amount to blackmail. If they have anything against him, they should take him to court.
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He said, “We are here at the Government house to register our displeasure over the continuous detention of Journalist Fejiro Oliver, who was arrested in Abuja and flew to Asaba, Delta State. He has been kept for over 15 days now alongside kidnappers in an anti-kidnapping cell. The offence against him, the Police said, is cyber stalking, cyberbullying, and cybercrime. These are cases we all know are bailable in court.”
“You cannot keep this young man for the past two weeks without communication with his family and friends; we are not in a banana republic. We are saying enough is enough.”
“We are calling on the governor to release Fejiro Oliver or charge him to court.” We don’t want to take laws into our hands, we don’t want to block state roads, we don’t want to block federal roads, we are only saying if the governor has anything against him, he should be charged to court, let him have his day in court or release him unconditionally, than keeping him in the anti-kidnapping cell, he is not a kidnapper, he is not an armed robber.”
In a letter to the governor, demanding the release of Mr. Fejiro Oliver following his unlawful arrest and detention for alleged defamation., he said; “We, the Concerned Youths of Delta State, write to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Fejiro Oliver (popularly known as F.O), who was arrested on 16th September 2025 by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Delta State in collaboration with the Delta State Government.”
The letter read thus: “This arrest and continued detention are unlawful, unconstitutional, and amount to a violation of his fundamental rights guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
Furthermore, he said, “Section 35(1) guarantees every Nigerian the right to personal liberty, Section 35(4) provides that any arrested person must be charged before a court within 24–48 hours, and Section 35(6) entitles any person unlawfully detained to compensation and a public apology.”
The letter signed by Comrade Umukoro stated further that, “Defamation allegations, whether criminal or civil, do not justify indefinite detention without trial. The proper procedure is to charge the matter before a court of competent jurisdiction, not to keep a citizen in unlawful custody.
“We therefore demand that Mr. Fejiro Oliver be released immediately. Failure to comply within 24 hours will leave us with no choice but to pursue legal action /lawful Civil Disobedience, including filing for a writ of habeas corpus and petitions to the National Human Rights Commission, the National Assembly, and international human rights bodies.
“We urge your offices to respect the rule of law and correct this violation without delay.”
