…Says it Represents Fresh Onslaught on Press Freedom in the Country

The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos says it is greatly disturbed by reports of security surveillance on Premium Times Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Musikilu Mojeed and Reporter, Mr Samuel Ogundipe, fearing renewed crackdown by the Nigerian authorities against the media.

A Premium Times publication disclosed that both journalists were trailed by suspected State Security Service (SSS) officials. The SSS agents who visited Mr. Mojeed’s home attempted to gain entrance into his residence, but were unsuccessful. The operatives were also reported to have monitored Mr. Ogundipe’s residence and drove off.

Possible grounds for their visits are linked to Ogundipe’s recent publication on the rift between the National Security Adviser, Mr Babagana Monguno, and Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Abba Kyari.

A follow-up story reported the unusual and unprecedented recall of all the senior army officers deployed to the NSA’s Office, without any replacements, leaving a resource void in the NSA’s Office.

The recall, the report further revealed, was being “countermanded” by the NSA.

In the aftermath of the story, Mr Ogundipe’s internet identity and domain were said to have been subjected to relentless hacking attacks while he has been receiving calls from strange numbers to confirm his identity.

IPC’s Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade in a statement noted that the reported incidents represent fresh onslaught on press freedom in Nigeria and aggravated assault on the right of journalists to practice freely without fear.

“Journalists who seek to provide information to the public to promote accountability should never be subjected to any form of harassment”, he said.

Mr. Arogundade therefore called on the Presidency to prevail on the DSS to immediately stop its attacks on Premium Times.

Earlier the management of Premium Times said that security operatives were trailing some of its reporters.

The newspaper said the ‘hunt’ is coming on the backdrop of a report on the “rift” between Mr Babagana Monguno, national security adviser (NSA), and Mr Abba Kyari, chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Pointing to its proofs in some documents, the newspaper had reported that Monguno accused Kyari of “undue and dangerous interference on matters bordering on national security”.

The NSA was said to have issued a warning memo to all service chiefs to desist from taking further directives from Kyari.

Premium Times said days after the story was published, the internet identity and domain of Mr Samuel Ogundipe, the journalist who filed the story, were “subjected to a relentless hacking attacks while he has been receiving calls from strange numbers to confirm his identity”.

The newspaper said early on Sunday, two men suspected to be officials of the Department of State Services (DSS), attempted to invade the home of its Editor in Chief, Mr Musikilu Mojeed, claiming they came around to drop a message for him.

The two men, both dark in complexion, one tall and clad in a dark suit, the other of average height wore a t-shirt, rode in a 2008 Toyota Camry car, Haulat Mojeed, wife of the editor said,” the report read.

The men who were not dressed in uniforms, Mrs Mojeed recalled, asked that she let them in claiming they had a parcel to deliver for her husband whom they were told was not around, as they rightly revealed to her.

Mrs Mojeed was said to have told them she wanted to fetch her phone, call her husband, and ask if he was expecting any parcel, but they reportedly left before she did so.

The report by the Premium Times notes that shortly after the encounter at Mr Mojeed’s house, another set of security operatives in a pair arrived at Mr Ogundipe’s residence

They were said to have parked at the roadside, looking directly into his apartment through the fence, and “after apparently noticing no activity, they drove off”.

Premium Times in its response said; “In an age of widespread kidnapping, it adds no value to the image of security officials to play by the protocols of nefarious actors in the community, visiting the homes of citizens and making up stories about dropping messages for them or threatening them through anonymous calls.

“If the security forces want any of our staff, we would be happy to present them in a way that will ensure clear accountability.”

The newspaper revealed that its attorneys have been contacted “to take up the matter from here.”

Denying Premium Times’ claims, Dr Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, said there is no operation targeted at the publication nor any of its staff.

Afunanya said if there is any need for the service to discharge its duties, it would do so in accordance with the laid down procedures.

“The report that the DSS is laying siege on Premium Times and has hacked the phones of one of its staff is false in its entirety. It is unfounded and just a needless sensationalism,” he said.

“There is no such operation at the moment by the Service targeted at the Premium Times, its editor or staff. If there is any need for the DSS to discharge its duty, it sure have to do that with every sense of decency and in accordance with laid down procedures.

“Now the service is not anywhere near the news agency. Therefore, the report should be disregarded,” he said.

According to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) published last October, Nigeria which has been in the throes of media siege, is among the 13 worst countries where killings of journalists have remained unsolved.

Nigeria has five unsolved cases over the last 10 years, the report noted.

“The 13 countries that make up the list of the world’s worst impunity offenders represent a mix of conflict-ridden regions and more stable countries where criminal groups, politicians, government officials, and other powerful actors resort to violence to silence critical and investigative reporting,” the report said.

Somalia, in a report by Premium Times, emerged the worst country for the fifth year in a row in a ranking based on deaths as a percentage of each country’s population — 25 unsolved killings in a country of 15 million people.

Syria is second while Iraq is third on the list. The country with the largest number of unsolved killings is the Philippines with 41, followed by Mexico with 30, the New York-based group said.

“During the 10-year index period ending August 31, a total of 318 journalists were murdered for their work worldwide and in 86 per cent of those cases, no perpetrators have been successfully prosecuted,” the CPJ said.

“Last year, CPJ recorded complete impunity in 85 per cent of cases. Historically, this number has been closer to 90 per cent; the past two years reflect a small improvement.

“The 13 countries on the index account for more than three quarters (222) of the global total of unsolved murders of journalists for the index period. All 13 have featured multiple times since CPJ first compiled the index in 2008, and seven have appeared every year.

“In the past decade, armed militant groups such as Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram and the Islamic State group have most often targeted journalists with complete impunity.

“However, criminal groups have become a major threat, killing large numbers of journalists and routinely escaping justice. Mexico, to date this year’s deadliest country for journalists, has seen its impunity rating worsens nearly every year since 2008, as criminal cartels waged a campaign of terror against the media.”

Other countries making up the 13 worst are Iraq, South Sudan, the Philippines, Afghanistan, Mexico, Pakistan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Russia, and India.