The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria is outraged by the detention of Premium Times Security Sector Reporter, Samuel Ogundipe as well as the Editor-In-chief, Muskilu Mojeed and the Education Reporter, Azeezat Adedigba on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.
While Mr. Mojeed and Ms. Adedigba were released after being arrested, detained and harassed, Mr. Ogundipe was still being held as at the time of this statement.
IPC is particularly dismayed that the Police authorities want Mr. Ogundipe to disclose the source of information over a story published by the newspaper on a correspondence between the Inspector General of Police and the Vice President.
This, to us, is a clear assault on press freedom and a clear threat to the safety of the detained journalist and his colleagues.
The Police Authorities are also hereby reminded that the Freedom of Information Act, a federal law, enacted in 2011, in Section 16 subsection C confers on the media ‘Journalism Confidentiality Privileges’ and as such should desist from engaging in unconstitutional acts.
We condemn the arrests and detention of the concerned journalists and hereby demand the immediate release of Mr. Ogundipe.
