Reports reaching SaharaReporters say the Nigeria police on Thursday evening arrested the Publisher of Premium Times online newspaper in Abuja, arresting its publisher, Dapo Olorunyomi and judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu.
The officers who conducted the raid of the newspaper’s offices said the action was after a complaint by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai claiming the newspaper libeled the army chief and the Nigerian.
Following a story in the paper recently, General Buratai demanded an apology from the newspaper which it refused to give.
Responding to the report of the arrests, Makmid Kamara, Interim Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, called on the authorities to release the journalists immediately or charge them with a recognizable criminal offense.
“They should also be given full access to their lawyers and families. Amnesty International will investigate the circumstances of this raid and the arrests," he said.
Saharareporters learnt Mr. Olorunyomi and reporter Evelyn Okakwu were released this evening shortly after the office of the president reportedly intervened.
