The Defense Headquarters and the State Security Service on Friday morning seized and destroyed major Nigerian newspapers in an action reminiscent of military dictatorship in the country.

It was learnt that there were random forceful seizures of newspapers including The PUNCH, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, while newspaper distribution vans were stopped and searched in different parts of the country.

Distributors told our correspondent that wrappers of The PUNCH were torn, damaging the cover of some copies while several copies of The Nation, Leadership and Daily Trust were confiscated.

The confiscations began early on 6 June when members of the security services and armed forces moved in on distributors and sellers in Nigeria’s main distribution points – Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jos, Maiduguri and Ibadan – seizing copies of The Punch, Vanguard, The Nation, Leadership and other newspapers. Copies were also seized at Lagos international airport and in the Port Harcourt region.

Six journalists arrested in Nigeria over presidential letter

12 Oct 2011 19:05| Jon Gambrell
Police in Nigeria raided a newspaper office and arrested six reporters for the publication of a letter from the former president to Goodluck Jonathan.

Two Nigerian reporters have been detained after publishing an article critical of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Tony Amokeodo and Chibuzor Ukaibe of Leadership, a daily newspaper, published an article last week titled: "Outrage trails presidential directive on Tinubu, APC."

Four journalists with LEADERSHIP Newspapers have been detained at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Two out of the four LEADERSHIP staff being held at the Police headquarters have been moved to an undisclosed destination.

The two, Tony Amoekedo (Group News Editor) and Chibuzo Ukaibe (Correspondent) were taken away a few minutes ago.

The journalists, Mrs. Chinyere Fred-Adebulugbe; Mr. Tony Amokeodo; Mr. Chibuzor Ukaibe; and Mr. Chuks Ohuegbe, had reported at the Force Headquarters on Monday morning to honour an invitation by the police.

The Director, Human Capital and former LEADERSHIP Sunday Editor, Mrs. Fred-Adegbulugbe, who led the journalists said, “After the journalists finished writing statements, DIG Peter Gana suddenly excused himself on a call from IGP Mohammed Abubakar.

“We were later told that we would not be allowed to leave except if we produced the source of the story. It was clear that this was not the call of the police. It is from President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We told them that it would be unethical to disclose our source and asked them to charge us to court, if they wanted. They said they wanted to have the document. We said the bromide had been published and wondered why they were making such a fuss, since they said the document was a work of fiction.

“They have made it clear that we would not be released except we give them the document. We can’t get out. I was escorted to use the toilet after begging.”

A statement by the Group managing Director of LEADERSHIP, Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene described the act as “a calculated and brazen affront on press freedom; we are bereft that a supposedly elected government will come this low.

“We demand the unconditional and immediate release of our journalists – Mrs. Chinyere Fred-Adebulugbe (Director, Human Capital); Chuks Ohuegbe (Managing Editor); Tony Amokeodo (Group News Editor); and Chibuzor Ukaibe (Political Reporter).

“President Jonathan and his handlers need to tell Nigerians and the civilised world why they have suddenly moved from describing the document as “fiction,” to a do-or-die obsession with knowing the source; they need to tell Nigerians most of who now live in mortal fear of their personal safety and security, if clamping down on the press has now become a priority sport.”

The statement added: “On our part, we wish to restate our resolve to continue to hold the government to account as enshrined in Chapter 22 of the constitution and to remain resolute in championing the course of press freedom and the right of the people to know.

“We stand by our story and will neither be cowed nor intimidated by the strong-arm tactics of President Jonathan nor by the puerile attempts by his spokesmen – Doyin Okupe and Dr. Reuben Abati – to tarnish our report.”

9jatriot:
For a party that keeps referring to GMB's arrest of journalist in 1983 and yet they have done worse in 2014, that is the height of hypocrisy.

koolet:
define Hypocrisy

noun, plural hypocrisies.


1.

a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess.


2.

a pretense of having some desirable or publicly approved attitude.


3.

an act or instance of hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy is the claim or pretense of holding beliefs, feelings, standards, qualities, opinions, behaviors, virtues, motivations, or other characteristics that one does not actually hold. It is the practice of engaging in the same behavior or activity for which one criticizes another.[1][2] In moral psychology, it is the failure to follow one’s own expressed moral rules and principles

OrlandoOwoh:
Seun, Lalasticlala, Ishilove