Nigerian Journalists Protest Police Detention of Premium Times Reporter

Segun Atanda/

 

The Nigeria Police authorities were today condemned for detaining a Premium Times reporter at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit in Abuja.

According to a statement received by NewsmakersNG, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) condemned “in the strongest terms the arrest and detention of Premium Times reporter, Samuel Ogundipe by the Police and his detention at the facility of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS in Abuja”.

Eight months ago, the police authorities also detained the Publisher of Premium Times, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi and one of his reporters, Evelyn Okakwu who were arrested following a complaint by the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai over certain publications in the online newspaper.

Today’s statement signed by the National President of NUJ, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Odusile, is entitled: ‘Enough is Enough’.

It says: “Samuel Ogundipe was arrested for writing a story on the report sent to the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbanjo by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris on the sacked and detained DG of SSS, Malam Lawal Daura.

“The NUJ is horrified by the constant harassment and molestation of Journalists by the Police and other Agents of the State and requests that such should abate forthwith.

“It should be noted that confidentiality of sources is necessary for good journalism to flourish and Journalists should not be coerced into revealing such sources.

“We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Samuel Ogundipe and an end to all forms of impunity against the media.”

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