PRESS FREEDOM: Hours after the revoking of the license of more than 50 media houses across Nigeria by government agency, the Nigerian police has been accused of invading the house of a journalist a human rights activist in Alapere area of Lagos.
What We Know
Based on reports reaching us at Clariform, men of the Nigeria Police Force from the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Friday invaded the Alapere residence of human rights activist, Agba Jalingo.
We gathered that the policemen surrounded the activist’s Alapere residence in Lagos at about 4:23 pm on Friday holding his wife and daughter to ransom.
When we contacted him on phone, he confirmed the unlawful invasion claiming that his wife and daughter were already held down by the policemen.
In his words: “Policemen just surrounded my house. About three to four of them. I don’t know who sent them and I am worried. I don’t feel safe. They held my wife and my daughter down. They are asking for me.”
In another post he also wrote, “Police men are still surrounding my house in Lagos. I still don’t know what brought them here. My wife and daughter are held hostage.”
He forward claimed that the police officer were deployed from Abuja by the brother of the Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade.
“I have information that the police were sent from Abuja and the command CP is aware. I don’t know what I have done again but I am afraid for my life. “They are sent by Franko Ayade. They are trying to force their way in right now,” he wrote.
Mr. Awe Kayode, the Divisional Police Officer of Alapere police station have confirmed this development to media sources we have reached out to.
According to the DPO, the officers at Agba Jalingo’s residence were sent from the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Notable Quote
In Mr. Kayode’s words:
“I am aware. He should join them and come to my office. The men are from Abuja but they will first come to my office. They booked at the Command and the Command referred them here. When they come, we will then ask.”
Also, Mr. Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos Statehas confirmed the development saying that the men were sent from Abuja.
He said:
“The men are from Abuja; they are not from Lagos State Police Command.”
Catch-up
Jalingo, who is the publisher of Cross River Watch, was imprisoned in 2019 at the Afokang Prison in Calabar. He was granted bail on February 17, 2020, after 179 days.
Clariform recall that he was arrested following an allegation of treason by the Cross River State Governor Benedict Ayade.
However, in March 2022, a Federal High Court in Calabar, dismissed the terrorism, treasonable felony, and cybercrime charges against him.
