NGE CONDEMNS ARREST OF NIGERIAN JOURNALIST IN NIGER

The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, views with great concern the arrest and detention of a Nigerian journalist, Lawan Adamu, who is currently in detention in Niger republic. The reason for his arrest and detention, according to the Nigerien authorities, was that he went into the country to report on the
situation of refugees attempting to migrate to Europe by travelling through the Sahara
It is pertinent to point out that Mr. Adamu went into Niger after obtaining necessary permit from the Nigerien consulate in Kano. Since he has valid permission to enter Niger as a journalist, the Nigerien authorities are wrong to arrest and detain him.
The NGE, therefore, demands Mr. Adamu’s immediate and unconditional release. The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs should ensure that Niger Republic complies with the ECOWAS charter, which among other things, guarantees freedom of movement to all citizens of member countries.
It will be recalled that in 2004, at the peak of the hunger crisis in Niger republic, another Nigerian journalist, Garba Deen Muhammad, who was then editor of the Weekly Trust newspaper, went into Niger to report on the hunger crisis in that country. Like Mr. Adamu, Mr. Muhammad was also issued a valid permit from the Nigerien consulate in Kano. But within 12 hours of Mr. Muhammad’s entry into Niger republic he was arrested, interrogated and summarily deported to Nigeria under armed guard.
Again, just as in the present case of Mr. Lawan Adamu, Mr. Muhammad’s plea and explanation that he had obtained valid papers from the Nigerien consulate in Kano fell on deaf ears.
We, therefore, call on the authorities in Niger to immediately release Mr. Adamu, apologize to him and allow him to conduct his legitimate endeavours without any further harassment.