Concerned citizens and human rights advocates have demanded the immediate release of investigative journalist and activist, Fejiro Oliver, from the custody of the Delta State Police Command, describing his detention as unlawful and politically motivated.
At a press briefing in Asaba on Wednesday, prominent civic leaders, including Barr. Omes Ogedegbe, Director General of the Confab for the Actualization of Human Rights; Comrade Dr. Akima Kelly Umukoro, a member of the Delta Community Policy Committee and President of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Youth Wing Worldwide; and Daniel Etaga, former President of the Niger Delta Youth Council, condemned what they called the “weaponization of the police against dissenting voices.”
They issued a 7-hour ultimatum to the Delta State Police Command to either:
- Release Fejiro Oliver unconditionally,
- Grant him bail, or
- Charge him to court.
Failure to comply, they warned, would force them to take legal and civil action.
The activists alleged that rather than investigating genuine petitions, police officers have resorted to confronting Fejiro with his old Facebook posts, many of which are not linked to any formal complaint.
“Law enforcement agencies are expected to act as impartial umpires, but in this case, the police have transformed themselves into instruments of personal revenge,” Barr. Ogedegbe said. “This grossly violates constitutional provisions.”
They further claimed that multiple petitions against the journalist are part of a coordinated plot to silence him for exposing uncomfortable truths through his investigative reporting.
“Who Is Afraid of Fejiro Oliver?”
Fejiro Oliver, who describes himself as a “secret reporter,” is known for his hard-hitting investigative journalism that has often unsettled politicians and powerful individuals. His supporters insist his ordeal is less about law and more about silencing a critical voice.
Comrade Akima questioned: “Who is afraid of Fejiro Oliver? If there are genuine allegations, why was he not properly investigated before being arrested? Why is the state machinery being used to isolate and silence a journalist?”
The group noted that the constitutional 24 to 48-hour window for arraignment had long expired. With the court located just minutes from the state police headquarters, they argued that there was no justification for detaining him for over two weeks without trial.
Etaga described Oliver’s confinement under the Anti-Kidnapping Unit as “inhumane,” alleging that he has been denied proper meals, visits, and unrestricted communication.
“This is nothing short of persecution,” he said. “We view it as a political attempt to suppress opposition voices in Delta State.”
The coalition also urged Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, not to allow state institutions to be used to intimidate citizens, stressing that public office holders remain accountable to the people.
“The money being spent in this state is not their father’s money,” Comrade Akima declared. “It belongs to the people, and Fejiro, like every citizen, has the right to ask questions.”
They insisted that the petitions against him were “watery” and lacked evidence, dismissing the cyberbullying claims as issues that should ordinarily be tested in open court.
As the ultimatum deadline draws near, all eyes are now on the Delta State Police Command to determine whether the embattled journalist will regain his freedom, or whether the matter will escalate into a larger legal and civil confrontations.