The International Press Centre, IPC, Lagos-Nigeria, has condemned the arrest of journalists who were covering a peaceful protest on the fuel price increase in Yaba, Lagos State on Thursday.
The four arrested journalists are Ifeoluwa Adediran of Premium Times, Abiodun Ayeoba of Sahara Reporters, Awoniyi Oluwatosin of Objective Media and Daniel Tanimu of Galaxy Television.
The statement released by IPC’s Program Officer, Melody Akinjiyan revealed that the spokesperson for the organizers of the protest – the Socialist Party of Nigeria – Comrade Hassan Soweto was equally arrested.
The statement read: “The cameras and phones of the journalists were seized while they were taken to the Lagos State Police Command.
“IPC disapproves of the harassment and brutalization of the journalists in the course of legitimate duty and particularly decries the seizure and damage of their working tools.
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“IPC demands the immediate and unconditional release of the journalists. The Police should also return their seized gadgets and pay compensation for the damaged ones.
“IPC reiterates that the right to peacefully assembly to ventilate grievances over government policies is covered by the laws of the federation and should not be tampered with arbitrarily.”