In another move to silence the few vibrant media in Nigeria ahead of the upcoming presidential ang gubernatorial election, Inspector General of Police, Hifiz Ringim has ordered the arrest of the Publisher/Editor-In-Chief of DESERT HERALD newspaper and magazine, Tukur Mamu in Kaduna this evening.

Our source confided that Mobile Police men as well plain cloth police numbering about thirty have siege DESERT HERALD Corporate office in Unguwan Sarki, Kaduna to arrest Tukur Mamu. The publisher who was arrested five times in less than one year on the instruction of federal authorities in Nigeria because of the paper’s critical analysis on issues, had earlier received secret information about the impending arrest from sources at the Force CID in Garki, Abuja and hurried left the office because of the unusual manner of the arrest and rampant threat to his life. As at the time of filling this report, sources at DESERT HERALD said the embattled publisher has gone into hiding because of several calls threating to kill him and the number of high profile PDP politicians that reportedly bribed IGP Ringim to arrest him and ensure his incarceration till after the elections.

Further findings revealed that the order of his arrest by Ringim is connected to the new innovation of the paper which provides sending free sms Alert to millions of GSM users in Nigeria. The innovation called DH Alert was first of its kind by any paper in Nigeria and has of recent make serious impact in the polity because of the breaking news and sensitive issues of national importance the Alert is disseminating. President Jonathan and Vice President Sambo was of recent very uncomfortable with the nature of information, news and awareness the DH Alert is providing to Nigerians. Kaduna State government was also an interested party to see Mamu is arrested and persecuted because they regard the papers report on Kaduna inconsistent with their political interest.

Meanwhile, the Protection Rights of Journalists of Africa (PRJA), a body that protects the rights of journalists in Africa with its Headquarters’ in Cape Town, South Afriica, which recently appointed Mamu as its first African Consultant on Media Affairs has just released a statement calling on Nigerian authorities to respect the fundamental rights of Mamu and sue the paper if they have anything against any of the paper’s publication or on the DH Alert. The President and Secretary General of PRJA, Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo and Mr. John Nkonu said they will send formal letter to President Jonathan on the issue.

Similarly, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)has issued similar press release calling on President Jonathan to caution and put an end on the impunity of the Nigeria Police. All effort to reach Mamu was not successful as he was said to be in hiding outside Kaduna. Our sources said the police have ransacked his office and left with vital documents including laptops and tape recorders.

Source : http://www.saharareporters.com/news-page/onslaught-against-press-igp-ringim-orders-arrest-tukur-mamu

Reminds me of Julian Assange. He should remain in hiding till after the presidential election.