The Department of State Services (DSS) don release Edna Ulaeto, a journalist wey work for OrderPaper newspaper, after dem arrest her on Friday.
Ms Ulaeto was arrested early Friday morning when armed SSS officers raid her house. Dem allegedly manhandle her, still in her nightclothes, and take her to an undisclosed location. This arrest happen because of a recent report by OrderPaper that wrongly claim say SSS officers dey plan to stop impeachment attempt against Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the National Assembly.
Even though OrderPaper retract the story and apologize publicly, masked officers still break into Ms Ulaeto’s home, go through her personal belongings, and cause significant distress to her and her family. Neighbours who try to intervene or document the incident were pushed aside, and some were forced to delete photos and videos under the threat of arrest.
No formal notice or invitation was sent to Ms Ulaeto or OrderPaper before the raid, raising concerns about the legality of the operation. The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) intervene and help secure her release on Friday evening.
This incident be part of a series of troubling attacks on journalists in Nigeria. Federal security agencies, including the police and the SSS, have been responsible for many of these attacks. Advocacy groups dey express concern say Nigeria dey witness significant backslide in press freedom, despite constitutional protections.
