• Contact Us
  • About Us
Sunday, October 1, 2023
  • Login
MetroBusinessNews
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • News
  • Companies and Markets
  • Energy
  • Sports
  • Real Estate
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • News
  • Companies and Markets
  • Energy
  • Sports
  • Real Estate
No Result
View All Result
MetroBusinessNews
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home News

Buhari urged to halt press harassment after journalists detained

metro by metro
January 20, 2017
in News
0
Muhammadu Buhari
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS

A group of Nigerian writers, intellectuals and media figures called on President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday to stop the persecution of journalists, after an online publication’s news staff was briefly detained.

Nigerian police late on Thursday arrested the editor and a reporter for the Premium Times, the rights group Amnesty International said, in a dispute raising concern about press freedom in Africa’s biggest democracy. The two were released later that evening without being charged.

Read Also

Amid Heightening Tension, INEC To Conduct Mock Accreditation For Forthcoming Guber Polls In Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa

Amid Piling Backlog, FG Launches Reforms To Reduce Bottlenecks, Identity Theft In Passport Issuance

Greener Tomorrow: Transcorp Champions Environmental Project Promoting Waste Management, Recycling In Local Schools

 “What we see is a disturbing trend that suggests not just an attempt to criminalise the important work that journalists in Nigeria do, but also a drive to frighten and cower and stop this critical constitutionally mandated work through the aggressive use of the state security apparatus,” said a joint letter to Buhari signed by 10 Nigerian public figures.

The letter called on the president to instruct security services to stop harassing and arresting journalists and insist that police follow the law in arresting and charging suspects “in a timely and transparent manner”.

The Premium Times has angered the military with articles saying dozens of soldiers were missing and the chief of staff was facing an investigation over false asset declaration. The armed forces have accused the paper of libel and defamation, charges the publication denied.

The detainment of editor Dapo Olorunyomi and judicial correspondent Evelyn Okakwu have raised concerns about freedom of the press and the power of the military in Nigeria.

The army said in a statement on Thursday it had begun legal action against the Premium Times over its “failure to retract and apologise over false, subversive and malicious publications against the person of the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai and the Nigerian Army”.

The articles included stories about soldiers missing in Nigeria’s northeast after clashes with Islamic insurgent group Boko Haram.

In a statement, the news publication said the arrest of its editor and correspondent had been made “based on a petition” by the chief of army staff.

“We call on the federal government to rein in the police and assure Nigerians that we are not living in a military dictatorship,” the statement said.

 

Previous Post

Deaths from refugee camp air strike rises to 90, could reach 170: MSF

Next Post

ECOWAS troops suspend Gambia operation

Related Posts

Amid Heightening Tension, INEC To Conduct Mock Accreditation For Forthcoming Guber Polls In Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa
News

Amid Heightening Tension, INEC To Conduct Mock Accreditation For Forthcoming Guber Polls In Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa

September 25, 2023
Amid Piling Backlog, FG Launches Reforms To Reduce Bottlenecks, Identity Theft In Passport Issuance
News

Amid Piling Backlog, FG Launches Reforms To Reduce Bottlenecks, Identity Theft In Passport Issuance

September 25, 2023
Transcorp Maintains Growth Trajectory With Strong H1 2023 Financial Performance
News

Greener Tomorrow: Transcorp Champions Environmental Project Promoting Waste Management, Recycling In Local Schools

September 21, 2023
News

US Court Grants Atiku’s Request, Orders Release Of Tinubu’s Academic Records

September 20, 2023
Next Post

ECOWAS troops suspend Gambia operation

UAE’s Brightest Minds to Enter Bybit’s Crypto Hackathon in UAE

September 29, 2023

Bybit and Max Verstappen Extend Grand Prix Triumph with Unforgettable Fan Celebration in Japan

September 29, 2023

Ethiopian Delegation to AFSIC – Investing in Africa 2023 Ethiopia – “The New Frontier Market, Opening Doors and Creating Opportunities”

September 28, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
MetroBusinessNews

© 2022 Metro Business News

Navigate Site

  • Contact Us
  • About Us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • News
  • Companies and Markets
  • Energy
  • Sports
  • Real Estate

© 2022 Metro Business News

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Go to mobile version