IPC Cautions DSS Against Harassment Of Its Director, Says Action Constitute Power Abuse

The International Press Centre (IPC) has condemned in the strongest terms the persistent harassment of its Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, by officials of the State Security Service (DSS).

In a statement on Tuesday by Melody Akinjiyan, the Press Freedom Officer, said the recent harassment of Arogundade at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, while boarding a late-night Air France flight to Berlin, Germany, to participate in the respective general meetings and conferences would be the umpteenth of such unwelcome development.

It also frowned against threats by DSS officials to bar him from traveling unless he produced his old passports, describing the request as “bizarre and ridiculous”.

The centre, while calling the Director General of the DSS, his men, and officers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, to desist from infringing on his rights, held that the harassment violated Arogundade’s right to freedom of movement while undermining basic democratic principles.

According to the statement: “The International Press Centre (IPC), hereby strongly registers its displeasure over yet another incident of harassment of its Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, by officials of the State Security Service, otherwise known as the DSS, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria.

“The incident of Thursday April 11, while Mr. Arogundade prepared to board a late-night Air France Flight to Berlin, Germany, to participate in the respective general meetings and conferences of the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) and the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) would be the umpteenth of such unwelcome development.

“Mr. Arogundade is a renowned journalist, advocate for social justice and democracy, former Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, and former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students. We believe these roles and positions should not warrant his unending torment by the DSS.

“IPC hereby calls on the Director General of the DSS, and in particular his men and officers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, to desist from further harassing Mr. Arogundade,” the statement added.