The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has firmly condemned the capture and detention of Mrs Adenike Atanda and her nine-month-old infant by officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
Atanda was held for several hours on Monday at Owutu Police Station, Ikorodu, Lagos, on behalf of her husband, Mr Sodeeq Atanda, a correspondent with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
IPI Nigeria understands that while Mr Atanda was absent, police officials located Mrs Atanda and her child in their community and took them into custody. She and her nine-month-old toddler are not suspects, journalists, or accused of any crimes.
Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and Section 36 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020 both clearly forbid the arrest of anyone in place of a suspect, and this arrest is an obvious and illegal arrest by proxy.
Atanda and her child experienced psychological strain and harassment in addition to the unlawful arrest.
The officers used a nursing woman and her child as bait, forcing her to inform her husband that their baby was seriously ill to lure him out.
It is especially troubling that personnel affiliated with the IGP Monitoring Unit committed this flagrant legal infringement just weeks after IPI Nigeria included Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector-General of Police, in its Book of Infamy for press freedom abuses.
Egbetokun, committed to enhancing police-media relations, started interacting with IPI Nigeria after that listing. In order to counter the increasing trend of harassment of journalists across the country, he also ordered the IGP Monitoring Unit to collaborate with IPI Nigeria.
Ironically, one of the most outrageous violations of journalists’ rights in recent times was carried out by the very team assigned to that assignment.
IPI Nigeria has halted all interactions with the Nigeria Police Force in protest of this misuse of authority until there is unmistakable proof of responsibility, respect for the law, and an end to animosity towards journalists.
Only after Mr Atanda turned himself in to the police were Mrs Atanda and her infant freed. After that, he was taken into custody, handcuffed, and released only with IPI Nigeria’s help.
Therefore, IPI Nigeria demands that the Nigeria Police Force publicly apologise to Mrs. Adenike Atanda and her nine-month-old infant; provide them with adequate compensation for the unlawful arrest, detention, and trauma they endured; immediately arrest, investigate, and prosecute all officers who instigated and carried out this illegal action; and fire those officers from their positions as a deterrent to future abuses.
IPI Nigeria further demands that Mr Atanda be free from intimidation and harassment while performing his rightful journalistic obligations.
By Babatola Ayomide Victoria @BusinessDay
