Articles by Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
Newspaper correspondent detained, questioned and released
(MRA/IFEX) – On 30 June 2005, Haruna Acheneje, a correspondent for “The Punch” newspaper in Akwa Ibom State, Niger Delta region, was arrested by agents of Nigeria’s intelligence service, the State Security Service (SSS), in Uyo, the state capital. Acheneje was arrested by three SSS agents who arrived at the newspaper’s premises at about noon […]
Police harass, detain journalists over newspaper reports
(MRA/IFEX) – On 22 June 2005, the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ (NUJ) Kogi State branch, Segun Omolehin, was arrested by police in Lokoja, the state capital, after he honoured their invitation to a meeting to resolve a lingering crisis between the police and journalists in the state. Omolehin’s arrest is the latest […]
Detained newspaper publisher released
(MRA/IFEX) – Orobosa Omo-Ojo, the publisher of the “Midwest Herald” newspaper who was arrested in Lagos on 2 May 2005 on allegation of sedition, has been released after 12 days in custody without formal charges. He was reportedly released on the orders of Inspector-General of Police Sunday Ehindero. Omo-Ojo was arrested by detectives from the […]
Police arrest and detain newspaper publisher
(MRA/IFEX) – On 2 May 2005, Omo-Ojo Orobosa, publisher of the “Midwest Herald” newspaper, was arrested in Lagos on charges of sedition while the Lagos office of the tabloid was sealed off. He was reportedly taken by police to Akure, the Ondo State capital, about 300 kilometres away, where he is being detained. According to […]
Two journalists assaulted by thugs
(MRA/IFEX) – On 26 April 2005, thugs loyal to the ruling political party in Lagos state, the Alliance for Democracy (AD), raided the press centre at Lagos state government headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja (the state capital), and beat up two journalists, seriously injuring them. The thugs assaulted journalists Femi Akinola, of the daily “New Age”, […]
Journalists attacked
(MRA/IFEX) – On 21 March 2005, Ijendu Iheaka, a reporter for “The Punch” newspaper, and Mathia Nwogu, a reporter for “The Sun” newspaper, were mobbed and their tape recorders seized by traders at the Ariaria International Market in Aba, the capital of Abia State, southeastern Nigeria, for entering the traders’ “territory” without giving them prior […]
Police summon reporter
(MRA/IFEX) – The Nigerian police have summoned Kingsley Emeruwa, a reporter with the daily tabloid “The Sun”, to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office in Abuja on 14 March 2005 regarding a story published by the newspaper last month. The story, titled, “Wabara forged tax receipt, says political adversary”, was published on the […]
Security agents raid newsstands, seize publications and arrest vendor
(MRA/IFEX) – On 10 February 2005, agents of the State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria’s intelligence agency, raided newsstands on Old Market Road, the main distribution centre for the city of Onitsha, in Anambra State. The SSS agents confiscated large quantities of “The News”, “The Source” and “The Week” magazines, as well as copies of “Hallmark” […]