Press Body Condemns Police Detention Of FIJ Reporter and Kano Journalist
The International Press Centre (IPC) has strongly condemned the unlawful detention of Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) senior reporter, Sodeeq Atanda, by the Ekiti State Police Command.
Atanda was arrested in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday following a petition by the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Abayomi Fasina, who accused him of cyberbullying, blackmail, and defamation.
Despite honouring a police invitation, he was held for over eight hours, allegedly subjected to degrading treatment, including being forced to walk barefoot, and given stringent bail conditions.
Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of IPC, described the action as “an attempt to stifle press freedom and intimidate journalists reporting issues of public interest,” warning that the police must not allow themselves to be used by the elite against journalists.
The IPC’s Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub also raised concern over the harassment of Kano-based journalist, Abdulaziz Aliyu of Waraka Online TV, who has reportedly faced constant intimidation and was detained over a past publication.
The centre called on security agencies to follow lawful channels in addressing grievances against journalists instead of resorting to arrests and harassment, stressing that such acts undermine democracy and press freedom in Nigeria.