Amnesty International says Samuel Ogundipe, a Premium Times journalist who was arrested on Tuesday, must be released immediately.
Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, reportedly ordered his arrest over a story on Lawal Daura, sacked director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The police had reportedly asked Ogundipe to disclose how he obtained the letter IGP wrote to Acting President Yemi Osinnajo on Daura but the journalist declined in line with the ethics of the profession.
Osai Ojigho, director of the human rights group, described the detention of Ogundipe as illegal.
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“The Nigerian police must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Samuel Ogundipe, who has been in unlawful police detention since yesterday,” the statement read.
“Reports that police detained Samuel Ogundipe with the intention of forcing him to reveal his sources are extremely disturbing and illustrate the level of harassment and intimidation that Nigerian journalists face. The duty of journalists is not to please the authorities – it is to share information in the interest of the public, and forcing journalists to reveal their sources is illegal.
“The directive for the arrest of Samuel Ogundipe reportedly came directly from the Inspector General of Police. The Nigerian police should focus their attention on maintaining law and order and allow journalists to perform their jobs free from fear of reprisals.
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“The arrest of Samuel Ogundipe is part of a concerted crackdown on the Premium Times and its staff by Nigerian police. On Monday, police physically assaulted Editor in Chief Muskilu Mojeed and briefly detained reporter Azeezat Adedigba. We urge the Nigerian authorities to respect and ensure human rights and instruct their agencies to desist from harassing and intimidating Premium Times staff and other journalists and media organizations.”
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