The invasion of the International Press Centre (IPC)1, Lagos, yesterday by more than 50 police, some armed, has been condemned by journalists and human rights workers alike. The police threatened to shoot at sight before arresting or harassing everyone they met. A number of people, including four journalists, were taken away by the police squad, […]
The invasion of the International Press Centre (IPC)1, Lagos, yesterday by more than 50 police, some armed, has been condemned by journalists and human rights workers alike.
The police threatened to shoot at sight before arresting or harassing everyone they met. A number of people, including four journalists, were taken away by the police squad, which was led by Commissioner Sobodu of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS). The police also ransacked offices and demanded to see computer files.
ARTICLE 19 today re-stated the need for fundamental legal and practical reforms to be swiftly enacted to ensure that such incidents no longer occur.
Andrew Puddephatt, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19 said:
“These strong-arm police tactics have bitter associations for Nigerians, and show Lagos citizens what those in the Niger Delta have known for some time: that old military habits die hard and that elections do not automatically guarantee democracy.
“We call upon the government to accelerate the reform process, including accountability of public servants, and urge the international community to keep a close eye on Nigeria until its citizens are guaranteed that their fundamental rights of expression and assembly will be respected,” he added.
It is believed that the raid was intended to apprehend alleged terrorists, whom the police obviously thought were present at a press conference in the IPC’s hall, which had been hired to an external group2. The group’s name, the Oodua Liberation Movement, is similar to that of a political organisation which has been declared illegal by the government – the Oodua People’s Congress. Although those arrested on this occasion were swiftly released without charge, others among the 400 netted in the Ketu area of Lagos on Monday in a similar use of excessive and indiscriminate force were not so lucky.
Contact: Rotimi Sankore at ARTICLE 19 on +44 20 7278 9292.
Note for Editors
1. The IPC is a resource centre for the media, part of the EU-funded Media For Democracy Project. The partners are three international organisations – ARTICLE 19, International Federation of Journalists and Reporters Sans Frontieres, one regional – the West Africa Journalists Association – and three Nigerian media NGOs – Media Rights Agenda, Independent Journalism Centre and Journalists for Democratic Rights
2. The hall is available for commercial hire and is used by a variety of non-media groups.
