The Nigerian Police Force on Tuesday, summoned a journalist with Premium Times, one of the country’s leading publications over a yet-to-be-published report.
According to the publication, their journalist, Emmanuel Agbo received a letter from the office of the country’s Deputy Inspector-General of Police, requesting his presence after a petition was filed by a major party to a land dispute which Mr Agbo’s planned story is focusing on.
“The police invitation came after Mr Agbo reached out to the Chief Executive Officer of Homadils, Bilkisu Aliu, over the phone. Mr Agbo and Ms Aliu further exchanged messages on WhatsApp where she shared with the PREMIUM TIMES journalist her reactions to allegations levelled against her by a family laying claim to the land in dispute,” Premium Times said.
They said they wrote to the police asking for more details concerning the summons before their reporter makes an appearance. Agbo was supposed to meet the officers on Wednesday, June 5.
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Lately, Nigeria has been facing a wave of attacks on journalists by state operatives. According to the Nigerian-based International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), the summons against the Premium Times reporter comes a week after their journalists were detained by the Nigerian Police over a similar invitation.
“In its invitation, the Police claimed it was probing a case of cyberstalking and defamation of character based on a petition received by the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, but provided no details,” ICIR said, adding that the invitation was unconnected with an investigation it published, which linked some former police bosses to a shady land deal.
This administration is really bent on distinguishing itself as being flamboyantly anti-press. https://t.co/ThGliR4Nzn
— ‘Kúnlé 🧩 (@KunleAdebajo) June 4, 2024
