The Nigeria police on Thursday evening raided PREMIUM TIMES head office in Abuja, and arrested the newspaper’s publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi.
Olorunyomi, who was arrested by plain-clothed police officers was arrested alongside the paper’s judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu.
The police officers who conducted a search at the office shortly after 5p.m. said they were acting on a complaint filed by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, according to a report by the Premium Times..
The arrests came days after PREMIUM TIMES turned down the army’s demand to retract news stories about the Nigerian Army and its operations.
The paper’s Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, condemned the raid.
“They should stop deluding themselves that they can muzzle the press and intimidate PREMIUM TIMES,” said Mr. Mojeed. “They should know that our loyalty lies with our readers and the Nigerian people who have a right to know.”
He said the paper will continue “to discharge its responsibilities in line with global best practices, social responsibility and patriotism, even at great risk to our personal liberties”
Meanwhile, global rights watchdog, Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of Olorunyomi and the reporter, Evelyn Okakwu.
In a series of tweets from its handle @AmnestyNigeria, the rights group said?It “will investigate the circumstances of this raid and the arrests of the journalists.”
The group called on government to ensure that the journalists have access to their lawyers and families.
The group said the security agencies should immediately release the journalists or charge them to court even though it acknowledged that details were not available to it regarding the raid.
The management of Premium Times Thursday evening alerted the world to a clampdown on its Abuja office and arrest of its publisher and reporter by plain-clothes policemen.
The medium has recently had a running battle with the Nigerian Army authorities over reports the latter considered unfriendly.
Photo: Dapo Olurunyomi
