Read the statement below...
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.
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.
Thank you.
Inibehe Effiong, ESQ.
Convener, Coalition of Human Rights
Defenders (COHRD).
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