SSS Arrests Ex. Director of International Press Institute, Lanre Arogundade

Officials of the State Security Service (SSS) has arrested the Executive Director of the International Press Institute Mr Lanre Arogundade.

The Eagle findings show that Arogundade, a former chairman of the Lagos Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) was arrested on arriving at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Thursday.

Arogundade was on his way from The Gambia where he had attended a training programme on Conflict Reporting for Journalists, organised by the UNESCO (Gambia) and International Press Institute.

No reason has been given for his arrest as of the time of filing this report.

Human rights lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Femi Falana who broke the news of Arogundade’s arrest said in statement:

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“We have confirmed that his name is not on Watch List. Hence, he was not prevented from travelling out of Nigeria. We have equally confirmed that he did not commit any offence in The Gambia to warrant his arrest and detention by security agencies in Nigeria,” Falana said in the statement.

“In fact, Mr Arogundade conducted himself as a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria throughout his stay in The Gambia. Even though the State Security Service said that Mr Arogundade has no right to enter Nigeria, he has not been sent back to the Gambia or any other country that might have been adopted for him. Since the harassment of Mr Arogundade cannot be justified, we are compelled to demand his immediate and unconditional release from the illegal custody of the State Security Service.”

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The statement was titled : ‘Demand for Unconditional Release of Lanre Arogundade from Illegal Custody of State Security Service”.

The Eagle will keep you posted on further developments.