CEHRD Condemns Incessant Arrests of Journalists by Security Operatives

The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) condemns the yesterday (Wednesday, 9th April, 2014) arrest of Iheanacho Nwosu, an editor of The Sun newspaper. The victim was reportedly arrested about 12.00noon yesterday at the venue of the ongoing National Conference in Abuja. Journalist Nwosu was said to have reported the shameful fiscuff between operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) also called State Security Services (SSS), Nigeria’s secret police and officers of the conventional police attached to the conference’ Michael Chidozie, Communication and Advocacy Officer of CEHRD said.

‘CEHRD recalls with condemnation too, twelve days ago (Friday , 28th March, 2014) police officers accused of acting on the orders of Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, abducted Wabara Ebere, another editor of The Sun newspaper from his residence in Lagos, South-West Nigeria to Abia State in the South–East.

‘CEHRD is gravely worried by these flagrant violations of Journalists’ rights to carry out their lawful duties. A Journalist should be allowed to carry out his social responsibility of holding government and its officials and others accountable for their actions and inactions. By so doing our democracy would grow. But these new waves of organised attacks on press freedom are condemnable. The security operatives should not re-enact the infamous reign of impunity and fear’ Chidozie added.