Media Rights Agenda (MRA)

The Lagos state government has issued a notice barring its political office holders and civil servants from granting interviews to journalists or speaking on its behalf. The order is meant to “sanitise” the flow of information from the government to the people.

Musa Mohamed Awwal and Aliyu Saleh were arrested by operatives from the State Security Service (SSS) on 24 December. They are believed to have been detained over a story in which they alleged that operatives of the Joint Task Force had rounded up 86 youths in Yobe State, and that the detainees were being abused.

Operatives of the State Security Service detained Ozioma Ubabukoh in his own home. The officials reportedly did so to prevent the journalist from writing stories on the deteriorating health of the state governor.

Journalist Kazeem Ibrahym was beaten unconscious by state security personnel when he tried to cover the Akwa Ibom state governor’s birthday celebrations.

Security men assaulted a photojournalist with the News Agency of Nigeria. Mr. Mike Agada was taking photographs at the funeral ceremony of a governor adviser’s in-law, when police officers seized his camera.

The Osun State police commissioner ordered the arrest of correspondent Bamigbola Gbolagunte after he wrote an allegedly offensive report.

MFWA welcomes the move by Gambian authorities to drop charges against two journalists for seeking permission to peacefully protest the execution of death row inmates, but calls for investigation into death threats against journalists.

As trial proceeds, over forty IFEX members urge the Cambodian government to drop charges facing detained rights defender and broadcaster Mam Sonando.