September 12 , 2007
PRESS STATEMENT
SECURITY AGENTS DECLARE JOURNALISTS WANTED
The attention of the Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation (HRJPF) has been drawn to the man-hunt of the publisher, crew members and distributors of the National Telegraph, a fortnight newspaper published in Owerri, Imo State.
Recall that in a story reported in its August 20 – September 2, 2007 edition, captioned “Wickedness: Daddy Hezekiah, General Overseer, Living Christ Mission attacks kinsmen with thugs”, the National Telegraph alleged that the clergy “…forcefully sacked his kinsmen, pulled down their village hall and confiscated their lands with thugs in Nkwerre, Imo State.”
But instead of heading to a constitutional court to ventilate his grievances as obtained in civilized democracies, the dreaded clergy resorted to use of security agents to harass, intimidate, brutalize, arrest and detain the crew members and distributors of the National Telegraph.
On September 1, 2007, security agents arrested the Imo State distributor of the National Telegraph in Owerri but released him four days later. And in the early hours of today, Wednesday, September 12, 2007 security agents from the Aba Area Command arrested one Tony Okeke, also known as Bishop, the Abia State distributor of the National Telegraph, at 58, St. Michael’s Road, Aba.
It is disheartening that the unlawful uses of security agents to harass, intimidate, brutalize, arrest and detain journalists, which characterized the dark days of the military, are manifesting themselves in a seemingly democratic dispensation. This smacks of intolerance on the part of the clergy, and abuse of state power on the part of the security agents. We therefore condemn this in its entirety.
While demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the detainee and a halt to the man-hunt and possible assassinations of the publisher and crew members of the National Telegraph, we call upon the Inspector-General of Police to, as a matter of urgent importance, investigate the matter.
Human Rights, Justice and Peace Foundation (HRJPF) |
93, Market Road, First Floor, Back |
Aba , Abia State |
Nigeria |
Email: hrjpfoundation@yahoo.com, chidicdy2k@yahoo.com |
Website: www.hrjpfound.com |
Tel: 234 803 505 6312 |
