The Office of the National Security Adviser, led by Nuhu Ribadu, has yet to respond after its officials abducted Kayode Jaiyeola, a photojournalist for The PUNCH, and seized his camera and phones.
Despite several days passing, there has been no effort to return Jaiyeola’s equipment to him or to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.
According to The PUNCH, the incident has exacerbated concerns about the aggressive tactics of security forces against journalists covering ongoing protests.
Attempts by Jaiyeola to retrieve his belongings, including revisiting the NSA office, have proven unsuccessful. Security personnel at the gate denied him entry, even after he explained the situation.
On Thursday, Jaiyeola was taken by the security officials while documenting the #EndBadGovernance protest at Eagles Square in Abuja. Despite showing his official ID, he was roughly handled and detained.
The officials transported him to the FCT police command and ordered his detention without explaining any charges. Jaiyeola was also barred from contacting his office or family.
FCT Command spokesperson Josephine Adeh confirmed that Jaiyeola was brought to the command by NSA officials but noted that they did not leave his belongings behind.
“We didn’t arrest him. He was brought from the NSA office. He has been told to go but he said his phone and gadgets are with the people who brought him and we have been trying to see how he could get them back which was why he is still with us. The FCT police command didn’t arrest him, please,” Adeh stated on Thursday.
The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute has strongly condemned the use of excessive force against journalists covering the nationwide protests.
On August 3, 2024, several journalists covering the #EndBadGovernance protests at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja were shot at by security agents wearing hoods.
Though they narrowly escaped injury, their vehicle was damaged by the gunfire.
The IPI expressed grave concern over the shooting, which occurred the day after the Chief of Defence Staff publicly criticized journalists for reporting on the protests.
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In a statement, IPI President Musikilu Mojeed and Legal Adviser Tobi Soniyi demanded an immediate investigation into the shooting, urging that the responsible officers, identified as members of the police and the State Security Service, be held accountable.
The IPI emphasized that journalists must be allowed to perform their duties without interference or intimidation, warning that targeting journalists undermines democracy.
“The IPI is hereby demanding an immediate investigation of the shooting incident at the stadium, where journalists were targeted. The officers involved, reported to be personnel of the police and the State Security Service, should be identified and punished.
“The media has a responsibility to cover the ongoing protests across the country, and journalists must be allowed to carry out their constitutionally mandated role without interference and intimidation by anyone.
“Targeting and shooting at journalists carrying out their legitimate duties is tantamount to taking a wild shot at our democracy and it should be condemned by all.”
