The Imo State government and a Rights group, Centre For Development and Human Rights Advocacy, CDHRA, at the weekend, differed on the arrest and detention of On Air Personality, Mr Chinonso Uba, popularly called Nonsokwa.
Mr Uba was arrested in a commando style by masked men last Thursday shortly after he presented a radio programme.
In a statement in Owerri, the state government debunked the allegations that it ordered the arrest of Mr Uba because of his criticisms of the Governor Hope Uzodimma administration.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba said neither the style of his arrest nor the contents of his radio programme were the issues, but the defamatory statement by Mr Uba that Governor Uzodimma and Alhaji Asari Dokubo were responsible for the killings in Imo State
According to the Commissioner, the government as a law abiding institution sought the help of the Police to investigate and substantiate the veracity or otherwise of the allegations.
Reacting to the claims of the state government, a rights group, the CDHRA, condemned the manner Mr Uba was arrested like a common criminal.
In a statement signed by its President, Mr. Jonathan Ukwuoma, the group said Mr Uba is being targeted for his work as a journalist, calling on the Police to release him.
“This is a ploy to gag the press in Imo state by the state government ahead of the forthcoming governorship election. The manner Mr Uba was arrested like a common criminal is unacceptable.
“We hope Imo State is not gradually descending to a place where Gestapo treatment is meted out to those perceived to be opposed to the state government” part of the statement read.