The Police in Abuja have detained Ayodele Samuel Oloye, the Publisher of Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper and CEO of Rock FM Jalingo, Taraba State.

Ayodele was detained on Monday by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) over a petition by Emmanuel Bwacha, the lawmaker representing Taraba South Senatorial District and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Taraba.

In an alert to colleagues on Monday, Ayodele had said he was attending a police invitation at the FCID.

“I’m Ayodele Samuel, Publisher of Taraba Truth and Facts Newspaper and CEO of Rock FM Jalingo, the first private FM radio station in Taraba State,” the message read.

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“I’m honouring a police invitation at the FCID, Abuja over a petition (I don’t know who the petitioners are or the content of the petition), but as a law-abiding citizen, I have honoured the invitation with a lawyer provided by the Media Rights Agenda MRA.

“I feel it’s necessary to inform you and seek your support in case things go south.”

In a follow-up notice on Monday evening, he would say the legislator had asked the police’s top investigative arm to interrogate him over claims of “cyberstalking, defamation of character, and frustration of ambition, among others.”

The alert titled, ‘Breaking: Police Detain CEO of Rock FM in Abuja, Over Senator Bwacha’s Petition’, read in part, “Senator Bwacha, who started his own radio station in Jalingo a few days ago, petitioned the Nigeria Police to investigate us, planning to keep me in police custody to cripple Rock FM. We heard he met with the Inspector General of Police one-on-one on this issue.

“It is demeaning to all Taraba South senatorial constituents and also the entire 9th National Assembly for a three-term senator, Bwacha, to be calling for an investigation into why a Nigerian decides to live and own a radio station in Taraba.

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“So far, the police are doing their job with appreciable decency. We’re not afraid and no amount of intimidation can kill our love for the people.”

Mercy Ayodele, the publisher’s wife, confirmed the development to journalists on Monday night, saying her husband, who arrived at the FCID at about 10 am, had not been released.

“Yes, he has been detained. He got to the FCID around 10 am and till now, he’s still there,” she said.

“A friend who is with him said he has been under interrogation and writing statements since they got there. He is yet to be released as I speak to you.”

When reached on Monday night to confirm the publisher’s detention, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, responded, “I will find out, please”.