Security Agents storm “The News” offices searching for reporter Henry Ugbolue
(IJC/IFEX) – Security operatives in Kaduna have intensified their search for Henry Ugbolue, the Kaduna State correspondent for “The News”. Ugbolue was arrested on 10 October (See IFEX alert). He was tortured and released. He was ordered to report daily to Government House. **Updates IFEX Alert dated 16 October 1997** Security agents stormed Ugbolue’s office […]
“African Concord” Editor Soji Omotunde abducted by security agents
(IJC/IFEX) – The Editor of the “African Concord” magazine, Soji Omotunde, was abducted by security agents on 25 October 1997. Omotunde was driving along a street in Ikeja, in mainland Lagos, when his car was blocked by the agents’ car and two men emerged to confront him. The agents would not tell him the reason […]
Five journalists arrested while attempting to cover rally; two editors released
(IJC/IFEX) – Five journalists were arrested and detained on 18 October 1997 at Ogbia Town, Bayelsa State. The journalists – Casmir Igbokwe of “The News”, Wisdom Dike “The Week”, Joseph Ollor-Obari of “The Guardian”, Tokunbo Awoshakin of “This Day” and Doifie Ola of “Post Express” – were in Ogbia Town to cover a rally being […]
“The NEWS” and “TEMPO” editors arrested
(IJC/IFEX) – Two editors of “The NEWS” and “TEMPO” magazines were arrested on 17 October 1997. Demola Abimboye, associate editor of “The News”, and Gbenga Alaketu, assistant editor of “TEMPO”, were picked up while having supper in a restaurant at Ogba, a Lagos suburb. Four plainclothes policemen entered the restaurant at about 6:45 pm and […]
Three journalists arrested
(IJC/IFEX) – The Kaduna State correspondent of “The NEWS” and “TEMPO” magazines, Henry Ugbolue, was arrested on 10 October 1997 by Security operatives attached to the Government House, Kaduna. Ugbolue was arrested on a street in the capital, Kaduna, severely beaten and taken to the Government House and further tortured. He was released in the […]
Eight staff members of television station beaten
(IJC/IFEX) – Eight staffers of Yobe State Television (YTV), in Damaturu, capital of Yobe State, were severely beaten on 6 October 1997 on the orders of the state military administrator, Wing Commander John Ben Kalio. The administrator was said to have been annoyed over YTV’s airing of a 45-minute documentary on the achievements of his […]
Arrest warrant issued for “The NEWS” editor-in-chief; “FAME” magazine staffer dies from illness developed during his detention
(IJC/IFEX) – Police have sent an arrest warrant to Bayo Onanuga, the editor-in-chief of the magazine “The NEWS”. The warrant, dated 2 October 1997, asked Onanuga to appear before a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja at 10:00 am on 6 October. **New case […]
Several journalists and media workers released
(IJC/IFEX) – The following is a list of journalists and media workers recently released in Nigeria: **Updates IFEX alerts as noted in text** Akpandem James, Rivers and Bayelsa States correspondent for “The Punch” newspaper, was released on 9 September 1997. He had been arrested on 4 September. (Updates IFEX alert of 5 September 1997). Chris […]
News vendors briefly detained; copies of “The News” magazine impounded
(IJC/IFEX) – Two news vendors were arrested in Abuja on 22 September 1997 during another swoop by security agents on newspaper distribution centres in the city. All copies of “The News” magazine displayed for sale were also impounded. The two arrested vendors were released later in the day. Nevertheless, the security operatives were on the […]
“The News” staffer arrested; magazine’s regional office raided
(IJC/IFEX) – Security operatives arrested Babatunji Wusu, an administration officer with the magazine “The News”, on 17 September 1997. Five plainclothes agents arrived at the Ogba, Lagos office of the magazine at about 10:00 am. They introduced themselves as officers of the Federal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (FIIB), Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos, and said they […]
Newsagents arrested; copies of magazine impounded
(IJC/IFEX) – Security operatives arrested and detained five newsagents (main distributors), five sub-agents and many vendors (newspaper hawkers) in Abuja, the federal capital, on 15 September 1997. They also impounded all copies of the magazine “The News” displayed for sale in the city. Contingents of security agents were said to have swooped on different newspaper […]
Journalist abducted; whereabouts of Nigerian Union of Journalists official unknown; “TELL” journalists file lawsuit against government
(IJC/IFEX) – On 11 September 1997, a journalist with the “Daily Sketch” newspaper, Segun Olatunji, was abducted by operatives of Operation Sweep, a government anti-crime outfit, in the Pedro area of Lagos mainland. Olatunji, who was returning from the weekly press briefing of the Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer, was abducted around 1:55 pm. […]