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PUNCH, Roots TV Reporters Arrested at Dunamis Church by Security Operatives

  • Date of Occurrence
    July 11, 2021
  • State/Country
    Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
  • Details
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Description

Armed policemen attached to the  Federal Capital Territory Police Command, on Sunday assaulted, arrested and detained a reporter with The PUNCH newspapers, Solomon Odeniyi.

Also arrested and detained was a reporter with Roots Tv, Busayo Tosin.

They were dispossessed of their mobile telephones and other belongings before they were detained at the River Park Police Station for four hours.

The policemen were led by one U.C Ugochukwu who ordered the detention of the journalists until all ongoing church services at the Dunamis Church International were concluded.

Recounting his experience, Odeniyi said, “I had gone to Dunamis as a follow up to what happened at the church last Sunday.

“Besides, some groups had addressed a press conference and vowed to storm the church if the congregants arrested in the church were not released.

“There was heavy presence of security operatives comprising of DSS and police personnel at the church which suggested something was about to happen.

“The protest was yet to start when suddenly I saw a patrol van of seven policemen surrounded us. (I was with a reporter from, Roots Tv Busayo Tosin).

“Ugochukwu and his men grabbed me by the belt and accused us of being part of the protesters. I showed my ID card to him which he forcefully took, damaging it in the process. Before I could say another word, I was slapped by one of them while another pointed his gun at me.

“I asked what my offence was. I told them my ID card was enough evidence to show I was not part of the protesters. All that fell on deaf ears. The other reporter from Roots Tv was equally being questioned at the time.

“We were immediately dispossessed of our phones and were bundled into a waiting Police patrol van and they drove off to River Park police station.

“We pleaded with them to allow us to communicate with our offices. The plea was turned down. The seized items were: one power bank, three mobile phones, one camera, one tripod, and a Punch Staff  Identity card.”

We got to the station around 8 am and were released following the intervention of the police high command at exactly 12:10.

However,  Ugochukwu ordered police at the station not to release us until the Church services in Dunamis ended.

After releasing us they took our addresses and phone numbers and warned us not to go back to the Church. We were also warned against reporting we were arrested and detained.
Actions Taken

Security operatives on Sunday arrested a Correspondent of The PUNCH Newspapers, Mr. Solomon Odeniyi, who was at Dunamis Church to cover an event.

Solomon works with the Abuja Bureau of the newspaper and was covering a live event when he was whisked away.

His colleagues are concerned for his safety as he had not been allowed to either pick his calls or contact anyone.

The reporter was released after over three hours in police custody.

Concerning his experience, Solomon said, I’m only nursing emotional injuries.”

Details
  • Date of Occurrence
    2021-07-11
  • State/Country
    Federal Capital Territory
  • Perpetrator
    Armed policemen attached to the  Federal Capital Territory Police Command
  • Source
    https://punchng.com/cops-slapped-me-damaged-my-id-card-punch-reporter-narrates-ordeal-in-police-custody/?utm_source=auto-read-also&utm_medium=web
Location

Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

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Region
  • North Central
Rights & Freedom Violated
  • Press Freedom
Gender of Victim(s)
  • Male
Mode of Attacks
  • Forced Disappearances, Unlawful Arrests and Detention
  • Comments are closed.
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