The following is an IFJ media release and protest letter to President Olusegun Obasanjo, condemning a police raid on the International Press Centre in Lagos: Media Release January 20th 2000 IFJ Condemns Armed Invasion Of International Press Centre in Nigeria THE International Federation of Journalists, the world’s largest organisation of journalists, today condemned a police […]
The following is an IFJ media release and protest letter to President Olusegun Obasanjo, condemning a police raid on the International Press Centre in Lagos:
Media Release
January 20th 2000
IFJ Condemns Armed Invasion Of International Press Centre in Nigeria
THE International Federation of Journalists, the world’s largest organisation of journalists, today condemned a police raid on the International Press Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, of 19 January, in which some of Nigeria’s leading independent journalists were detained.
“This was a brutal and unjustified assault on press freedom which will outrage journalists worldwide”, said Aidan White, General Secretary of the IFJ.
The IFJ protest follows after news from the International Press Centre, Lagos, that 50 policemen stormed the centre led by Commissioner Sobodu of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS). They threatened to shoot people who resisted. Those arrested included Wale Adeoye and Tunde Aremu from Punch, Nicholas Nwafor from The News/Tempo, and Lekan Otufodunrin from Journalist for Christ.
In a letter to the President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, the IFJ has called for the immediate release of the journalists that were arrested and an unreserved apology for the unwarranted-armed attack. The IFJ is raising the issue with the Nigerian government and also with the European Union which is supporting press freedom projects in the country.
“We have no word of any justification for this incident. It appears, purely and simply, to be a case of intimidation and pressure on independent journalists and press freedom groups that work at this Centre”, said the IFJ. “As such it is a gross violation of press freedom and democratic rights.” The IFJ says the assault on the International Press Centre and the arrest of journalists is reminiscent of the repressive era of General Sanni Abacha.
The International Press Centre is a component of the Media-For-Democracy Project of the International Federation of Journalists and Article 19, the London-based Centre against Censorship, the West African Journalists Association, and three Nigerian media NGOs; Media Rights Agenda, Independent Journalism Centre, and Journalists for Democratic Rights. “We want assurances that these groups will be able to continue their work without further interference”, says the IFJ.
Further Information: IFJ: Tel + 32 2 223 2265
The IFJ is the world’s largest organisation of journalists, representing more than 450,000 journalists in 101 countries.
Protest letter follows:
President Olusegun Obasanjo
State House, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Fax: +234 9 523 21 36
Brussels, 20 January 2000
Your Excellency
The International Federation of Journalists, the world’s largest journalists’ organisation representing over 450,000 journalists worldwide, is disturbed by the armed assault on the International Press Centre in Lagos, yesterday, 19 January, in which some of Nigeria’s leading journalists were detained.
According to our information, 50 policemen stormed the International Press Centre led by Commissioner Sobodu of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS). They threatened to shoot people who resisted. Those arrested included Wale Adeoye and Tunde Aremu from Punch, Nicholas Nwafor from The News/Tempo, and Lekan Otufodunrin from Journalist for Christ.
We demand the immediate release of the journalists that were arrested and an unreserved apology for the unwarranted-armed attack. We are raising the issue with the European Union which is supporting press freedom projects in your country. This is a gross violation of press freedom and democratic rights.
The International Press Centre is a component of the Media-For-Democracy Project of the International Federation of Journalists and Article 19, the London-based Centre against Censorship, the West African Journalists Association, and three Nigerian media NGOs; Media Rights Agenda, Independent Journalism Centre, and Journalists for Democratic Rights. We want assurances that these groups will be able to continue their work without further interference.
Yours sincerely
AIDAN WHITE
General Secretary
Recommended Action
Similar appeals can be sent to:
President Olusegun Obasanjo
State House, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
Fax: +234 9 523 21 36
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
