(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has expressed concern about the numerous attacks on press freedom in Nigeria recently and the growing climate of lawlessness in which journalists have to work, especially outside Lagos. The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has ordered the expulsion of Haruna Acheneje, a correspondent of “The Punch” newspaper in the southern state […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has expressed concern about the numerous attacks on press freedom in Nigeria recently and the growing climate of lawlessness in which journalists have to work, especially outside Lagos.
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has ordered the expulsion of Haruna Acheneje, a correspondent of “The Punch” newspaper in the southern state of Akwa Ibom. Lawson Heyford, of “The Source” magazine, was arrested by police in the southern city of Port Harcourt and arbitrarily held by police for several days. Finally, a Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) crew was attacked by police in Abuja while filming a clash between police and military officers.
“We are appalled by this unacceptable expulsion order against a journalist whose only sin was writing an article,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. “We demand its immediate cancellation and call on the federal government to strongly condemn it,” he added.
The organisation urged the authorities to ensure greater security for journalists working throughout the country and not to allow abuses and irregularities to go unpunished. “Investigations into physical attacks and arbitrary arrests must be thorough and those responsible for them must be identified and punished,” RSF said.
Acheneje had reported in the 11 August 2003 edition of “The Punch” that Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly members were complaining about the federal government because their allowances had not been paid. Assembly members denounced the article as “false” and “a bid to stir up trouble” and summoned the journalist to explain himself. Acheneje declined, asking instead that they contact his paper’s head office in Lagos.
On 15 August, the assembly ordered him to leave the state within a week. On 22 August, when Acheneje failed to do so, it voted on a resolution to expel him. That same day, three armed men thoroughly searched his office while he was absent. On 23 August, he received two suspect packages at his home, which he handed over to police for fear they were dangerous. Dele Giwa, editor-in-chief of “Newswatch” magazine, was killed in 1986 when he opened a parcel bomb at his home (see IFEX alerts of 28 August 2001, 14 January 2000 and 20 November 1997).
Heyford was arrested without explanation on 22 August. He was held at the office of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Lagos. The journalist was released four days later after his interrogation about an article he wrote about tribal clashes that resulted in the death of several people in the southern village of Ataba, and in which he named several people as being responsible.
NTA reporter Mohammed Labbo and cameraman Abdullahi Abdullahi were attacked by police on 14 August as they were covering clashes between police and military officers. Abdullahi was hit on the head with rifle butts and his camera was damaged. The Police Affairs Ministry has opened an inquiry into the incident, but no results have been announced to date.
