Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUJA60
2007-01-11 15:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
SSS ARRESTS MORE JOURNALISTS AT ABUJA INQUIRER
how-toVZCZCXRO5730 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #0060 0111524 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 111524Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8275 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0047 RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0045 RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 5876 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000060
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM NI
SUBJECT: SSS ARRESTS MORE JOURNALISTS AT ABUJA INQUIRER
REF: ABUJA 52
Classified By: Political Counselor Russell J. Hanks for reasons 1.4 (b
and d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 000060
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM NI
SUBJECT: SSS ARRESTS MORE JOURNALISTS AT ABUJA INQUIRER
REF: ABUJA 52
Classified By: Political Counselor Russell J. Hanks for reasons 1.4 (b
and d)
1. (C) Post reported reftel that one Nigerian journalist was
arrested by the State Security Service (SSS),another was
murdered, and that the top floor of the corporate offices of
Thisday newspaper was destroyed in a fire. In a new
development, SSS agents on January 10, 2007 detained the
entire staff of The Abuja Inquirer for several hours and
"invited for further questioning" the Publisher Dan Akpovwa
and General Editor Sonde Abbah. While no charges have been
filed, SSS agents said they had published seditious material.
Akpovwa and Abbah were still being involuntarily questioned
on January 11.
2. (C) At 2:30 p.m. on January 10, 2007, SSS agents arrived
at the offices of The Abuja Inquirer. Emmanuel Iffer, a
journalist at the paper, told PolOff that agents overpowered
the guards and entered the building yelling and brandishing
weapons. In addition to the paper's staff, guests, two
corporate attorneys, and staff members from three other media
outlets who were on the premesis at the time were detained.
All were required to hand over their cellular telephones, and
they were prevented from making or receiving any calls on
their landlines. SSS agents proceded to search the office,
saying that the newspaper was being investigated for
sedition. Akpovwa and Abbah were taken away for further
questioning, and everyone else was released shortly after 6
p.m.
3. (C) The Abuja Inquirer is a weekly newspaper. In their
January 8-14 edition they ran a story headlined, "OBJ-Atiku
Faceoff: Coup Fears Grip Nigeria." They believe it is this
story which led to the sedition allegation. When SSS came,
they waved a paper which they said was a search warrant.
When asked to see an arrest warrant to explain the detention
of all present, they said none was needed as they were simply
"invited for questioning." A total of 16 SSS officers were
involved in the raid.
4. (C) COMMENT. This is the fourth major incident involving
journalists since Christmas, and post is investigating a
fifth incident and will report upon it septel. Nigerian
media have long been critical of the government, but it is
unclear why the government is NOW responding more harshly to
such criticism. Emmanuel Iffer believes it is part of a
coordinated campaign to intimidate journalists given the
uncertainty surrounding the elections planned for April. Any
effort to chill the reporting of journalists does not bode
well for this spring's political season. END COMMENT.
CAMPBELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM NI
SUBJECT: SSS ARRESTS MORE JOURNALISTS AT ABUJA INQUIRER
REF: ABUJA 52
Classified By: Political Counselor Russell J. Hanks for reasons 1.4 (b
and d)
1. (C) Post reported reftel that one Nigerian journalist was
arrested by the State Security Service (SSS),another was
murdered, and that the top floor of the corporate offices of
Thisday newspaper was destroyed in a fire. In a new
development, SSS agents on January 10, 2007 detained the
entire staff of The Abuja Inquirer for several hours and
"invited for further questioning" the Publisher Dan Akpovwa
and General Editor Sonde Abbah. While no charges have been
filed, SSS agents said they had published seditious material.
Akpovwa and Abbah were still being involuntarily questioned
on January 11.
2. (C) At 2:30 p.m. on January 10, 2007, SSS agents arrived
at the offices of The Abuja Inquirer. Emmanuel Iffer, a
journalist at the paper, told PolOff that agents overpowered
the guards and entered the building yelling and brandishing
weapons. In addition to the paper's staff, guests, two
corporate attorneys, and staff members from three other media
outlets who were on the premesis at the time were detained.
All were required to hand over their cellular telephones, and
they were prevented from making or receiving any calls on
their landlines. SSS agents proceded to search the office,
saying that the newspaper was being investigated for
sedition. Akpovwa and Abbah were taken away for further
questioning, and everyone else was released shortly after 6
p.m.
3. (C) The Abuja Inquirer is a weekly newspaper. In their
January 8-14 edition they ran a story headlined, "OBJ-Atiku
Faceoff: Coup Fears Grip Nigeria." They believe it is this
story which led to the sedition allegation. When SSS came,
they waved a paper which they said was a search warrant.
When asked to see an arrest warrant to explain the detention
of all present, they said none was needed as they were simply
"invited for questioning." A total of 16 SSS officers were
involved in the raid.
4. (C) COMMENT. This is the fourth major incident involving
journalists since Christmas, and post is investigating a
fifth incident and will report upon it septel. Nigerian
media have long been critical of the government, but it is
unclear why the government is NOW responding more harshly to
such criticism. Emmanuel Iffer believes it is part of a
coordinated campaign to intimidate journalists given the
uncertainty surrounding the elections planned for April. Any
effort to chill the reporting of journalists does not bode
well for this spring's political season. END COMMENT.
CAMPBELL