Abuja, July 3, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Nigerian authorities to urgently investigate Wednesday’s
seizure
of
Secret Reporters
journalist Stanley Ugagbe by two armed men in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, and secure his safe return.
“Nigerian authorities must swiftly investigate the whereabouts of journalist Stanley Ugagbe, ensure his immediate safety, and hold those responsible for his disappearance to account,” said CPJ Africa Director Angela Quintal. “The Nigerian government must act urgently to end the horrific pattern of enforced disappearances of journalists and others in a country that claims to uphold democratic values.”
The Secret Reporters news site’s publisher Tega Oghenedoro, known by his pen name, Fejiro Oliver, and senior reporter Paul Utebor told CPJ that Ugabe’s neighbors saw Ugagbe enter his apartment in Jikwoyi, a northeastern Abuja suburb, on July 1, followed by two armed men, who had arrived in a black jeep. The three then left the house, with the unidentified men carrying a laptop and phones. When the neighbors tried to intervene, the men refused to speak or identify themselves while Ugagbe shouted, “Call my office.”
The journalists told CPJ they believed the incident was related to the outlet’s recent
investigation
into
corruption
and
infidelity
allegations involving an executive with Nigeria’s Central Bank. Ugagbe was the lead reporter.
After Ugagbe called the executive from his own phone to request comment prior to publication, he received a call from a man who identified himself as Ibrahim, denied the allegations in the story, and asked Ugagbe to refrain from publishing, they said.
Oliver said they received a call on July 1, from sources within the police force who informed them that Ugagbe had been taken to the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office in Abuja’s Guzape district. The SARS unit was
disbanded
in 2020 after mass protests.
The two journalists said they had visited that site,
… [more]
