The International Press Centre (IPC) condemns the harassment and unlawful detention of journalists by men of the Nigerian Police Force in Warri, Delta State.
Report by the Committee to Protect Journalists states that Matthew Omonigho (Daily Post Newspaper), Edeki Igafe (News Agency of Nigeria), Christopher Odamah (Delta Trumpet Newspaper), Onyekachukwu Meluwa (Punch Newspaper) and Francis Sadhere (Business Day Newspaper) were recently harassed and unlawfully detained over their professional connections with Cletus Opukeme, Publisher of Daily Watch news website.
In a statement, Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre said the police should desist from harassing and unlawfully detaining journalists, while they should publicly disclose the reason they are seeking journalist Cletus Opukeme.
“Journalists should be allowed the liberty to work without fear of harassment and intimidation from security operatives” Arogundade said.
Mr. Arogundade urged the Delta State Police Command to follow due process if any of the concerned journalists is suspected to have violated any law.
SGD
Melody Akinjiyan
Safety Alert Officer, IPC
+2348132776441
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Melody Akinjiyan
Program Officer
International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, Nigeria
IPC is Nigeria’s foremost media capacity development organization.
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Tel: +2348132776441
Twitter: @Melodie009
