A journalist and former Deputy Chairman of Bende Local Government Area, Promise Uzoma Okoro, narrowly avoided arrest and being taken to Abuja by officers from the Nigeria Police Force’s FCID, Abuja.

Okoro, who currently serves as the Chairman of the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OPMAN) in Abia State, was reportedly set to be detained over allegations that he published defamatory content about an individual. The arrest attempt was made over the weekend.

Speaking on Monday about the incident, Okoro revealed that the intervention of the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, along with members of OMPAN, halted the Abuja officers from taking him away.

Okoro criticized the police for not issuing any prior notice before they arrived in Umuahia to arrest him. He accused his adversaries of attempting to have him jailed through what he described as a “kangaroo process.” Okoro also claimed that a recent failed spiritual attack was part of a larger plot against his life.

“Police came from Abuja to Umuahia to arrest me over an alleged defamation case without any prior invitation. Any effort to intimidate me with security agencies in Nigeria will not succeed,” Okoro said.

He thanked Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa and Abia State Police spokesperson ASP Maureen Chinaka for their professionalism and respect for the rule of law. Okoro also issued a warning against any attempts to disrupt the relationship between media practitioners and the police.

On Monday, members of OMPAN in Abia State accompanied Okoro to the Police Command headquarters in Umuahia to formally report the conduct of the Abuja officers.