IPC Protests Arrest, Detention of Publisher Azuka Ogujiuba over Investigative Story
From Umar Dankano, Yola
The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, has condemned the arrest and detention of the publisher of Media Room Hub, Ms. Azuka Ogujiuba, by the police over a land dispute story published in her medium.
In a press statement signed by Melody Akinjiyan, Press Freedom Officer at the Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub, and made available to journalists on Wednesday, IPC described the arrest, intimidation, and harassment of the publisher, who is also a former journalist with ThisDay Newspapers as unlawful and unacceptable.
According to SPJ-Hub, Ogujiuba was arrested and detained on two occasions for her coverage of a court case involving a land dispute. Despite being based in Lagos, she has been repeatedly summoned to Abuja by the police.
Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, strongly criticized the development, saying: “These actions of intimidation, harassment, and detention are highly condemnable. The police, alongside the Federal Government, must uphold their responsibility to respect everyone’s right to freedom of expression. If the police have anything against Azuka Ogujiuba, the lawful step should be taken, not subjecting her to constant harassment.”
The statement reiterated IPC’s call for the protection of press freedom and urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to stop all forms of intimidation and guarantee Ogujiuba’s safety.
Findings by this medium also revealed that journalists in recent times have increasingly become victims of harassment across the globe, a trend media analysts describe as a deliberate attempt to gag the press and obstruct its duty of uncovering the truth.
