Another Nigerian
blogger, Emenike Iroegbu has been arrested by operatives of Nigeria’s
secret police in the Akwa Ibom State capital, Uyo for undisclosed
reasons.
According to information provided to
human rights activists by the blogger’s wife, Ekaette Iroegbu, he was
whisked away from his home in Uyo on Tuesday, September 6, 2016, by a
team of armed operatives of the Department of State Security Services,
DSS, also known as SSS. His phone and laptop was confiscated and so were
his wife’s phones.
A lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong
has called on the DSS to release the 38-year-old blogger and publisher
of an online news medium, Abia Facts.
According to a statement e-mailed to The Trent, Effiong writes on behalf of the Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, COHRD, a group he founded.
The group is worried that the
fundamental right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Section 39 of
the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) is
being eroded at an alarming and unprecedented level since the inception
of the current dispensation.
“Our attention has been drawn to the
arrest and detention of a 38-year-old blogger and publisher of an online
news medium, Abia Facts, Mr. Iroegbu Emenike by the State Security
Service (SSS) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State at about 1:00 pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2016,” Effiong wrote.
“According to the wife of the blogger,
Mrs. Ekaette Emenike Iroegbu, the blogger was arrested by three (3) SSS
operatives who invaded their Uyo residence in a Gestapo style in a black
jeep. The operatives took away the two phones of Mrs. Emenike; the
bloggers own phones and laptop, etc.
“After ransacking their apartment, they
whisked the blogger away without disclosing the reason for his arrest
and their destination.
“Though the Director of SSS, Akwa Ibom State Command, Mr. Adesina informed me at about 9:04 pm
on Tuesday, September 6, that he was not aware of the blogger’s arrest,
the wife of the blogger who went to the SSS office in Uyo has confirmed
that her husband is being held by the SSS in Uyo.
“Without prejudice to whatever reason
may have motivated the arrest and detention of the blogger, it is very
worrisome that the fundamental right to freedom of expression guaranteed
by Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
1999 (as amended) is being eroded at an alarming and unprecedented level
since the inception of the current dispensation.
“Few examples will suffice. Emmanuel
Ojo, a blogger, was arrested by the Ogun State Police Command on
Saturday, September 26, 2015 on the orders of the Ogun State governor
over his publication about the governor’s wife on Facebook.
“Blogger Seun Oloketuyi was equally
arrested in 2015 over an online publication. Mr. Abubakar Sidiq Usman, a
popular blogger and political commentator was arrested and detained
recently by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over
alleged cyberstalking.
“Mr. Musa Azare from Bauchi State was
also arrested recently by the Nigeria Police Force allegedly on the
orders of his state governor over his critical publications on social
media
“The SSS and other security agencies
should resist the emerging capricious proclivities of political office
holders to use security agencies to clampdown on Nigerians for
exercising their constitutional liberties. Democracy is being threatened
in Nigeria by the rising display of intolerance to free speech.
“Will the SSS and other security
agencies be willing to arrest, detain and prosecute every Nigerian that
is accused of making offensive or derogatory publication and statement?
The security agencies should not be seen to be massaging the egos of the
influential members of the society.
“Those who believe that their reputation
have been lowered in the eyes of right thinking members of the society
should explore the legal option by seeking redress in a court of law.
“While we are not yet certain about the
person(s) who instigated Emenike’s arrest, it is on record that the Abia
State born blogger has been constantly harassed by the agents and
officials of the Abia State Government over his publications. It is also
on record that some government officials in Akwa Ibom State have been
uncomfortable with some of his publications online.
“We hereby call on the SSS to release Mr. Iroegbu Emenike immediately. Injury to one, is injury to all.”
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