Thursday, March 28, 2024

IPC Condemns Trailing of Premium Times Journalists

The International Press Centre Lagos (IPC) is disconcerted by reports of security surveillance of Premium Times Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed and Reporter, Samuel Ogundipe.

A Premium Times publication disclosed that both journalists were trailed by suspected state security service (SSS) officials. The SSS agents who visited Mr. Mojeedā€™s home attempted to gain entrance into his residence, but were unsuccessful.

The operatives were also reported to have monitored Mr. Ogundipeā€™s residence and drove off.

Possible grounds are linked to Ogundipeā€™s recent publication on the rift between the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, and Chief of Staff to the president, Abba Kyari.

A follow-up story reported the unusual and unprecedented recall of all the senior army officers deployed to the NSAā€™s Office, without their replacement, leaving a resource void in the NSAā€™s Office.

The recall, the report further revealed, was being ā€œcountermandedā€ by the NSA.

In the aftermath of the story, Samuel Ogundipeā€™s internet identity and domain are also said to have been subjected to relentless hacking attacks while he has been receiving calls from strange numbers to confirm his identity.

IPCā€™s Executive Director Mr. Lanre Arogundade in a statement noted that the reported incidents represent fresh onslaught on press freedom in Nigeria and an aggravated assault on the right of journalists to practice freely without fear.

ā€œJournalists who seek to provide information to the public to promote accountability should never be subjected to any form of harassment,ā€ he said.

Mr. Arogundade therefore called on the Presidency to prevail on the DSS to immediately stop its attacks on Premium Times.

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