Togo press association condemns kidnapping of journalist Roland Yaovi Kodjo

The Patronat de la Presse Togolaise (PPT) has condemned the kidnapping and assault of Roland Yaovi Kodjo, a reporter for Tampa Express. The incident occurred on September 5, 2026, in Guerin-Kouka while Kodjo was covering a traditional Bassar-Konkomba festival.

According to the PPT, Kodjo was intercepted by individuals in civilian clothing, including one person in a police uniform. He was forced into a non-official Prado vehicle, handcuffed, and blindfolded. During a forced transport of over 55 kilometers, he was subjected to physical violence before being abandoned in the bush.

The kidnappers reportedly mistook Kodjo for Francisco Kossi Gbandi Napo-Koura, the publisher of Tampa Express and promoter of Tampa TV, who was their intended target. The PPT has called for an official investigation to identify the perpetrators and is demanding concrete security guarantees for journalists working outside of Lomé.