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Concerns over Press Freedom as Nigerian Army Invade Daily Trust Offices

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On 6th January, 2019, security forces from the Nigerian army invaded the premises of Daily Trust newspapers and shut its offices in Abuja, Lagos and Maiduguri . The invasion of the Daily Trust Offices by the Nigerian Army and its subsequent arrest of two staff over a published story on its military operations has drawn national and international condemnation over what many perceive as an attempt to stifle press freedom.

Although the Nigerian military has reiterated that its actions were in conformity with the Official Secrets Act (which protects classified information) and drawn from its desire to protect national security, many groups including the Newspaper Proprietor Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors, (NGE), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), civil society groups and even the United Kingdom have condemned its actions for failing to follow democratic channels to seek redress. The actions of the military had also been criticised for being contrary to the rule of law, which places the power of arrest, detention and prosecution of any civil offence within the purview of the Nigerian Police. This is so as Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) guarantees press freedom and entrusts it with the responsibility of upholding accountability of the Government to the people. In addition, Section 36 of the Constitution guarantees the freedom of expression including the power to own, establish and operate any medium for the dissemination of information, ideas and opinions.

While President Buhari has ordered the soldiers to vacate the offices of the newspaper, it is hoped that he will take further action to discourage this behaviour which is all too reminiscent of Nigeria’s dark days under military rule. Press freedom appears to have come under increasing attack in recent times with two journalists, Samuel Ogundipe from Premium Times and Jonas Abiri, from Weekly Source newspaper in Bayelsa State being in the limelight last year following their illegal arrest and detention by the government.