The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has condemned the arrest and detention of a journalist’s wife and her nine-month-old baby by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, describing the action as unlawful and a grave abuse of power.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, and signed by IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed, and its Legal Adviser, Tobi Soniyi, the institute said Mrs. Adenike Atanda and her infant were detained for several hours on Monday at the Owutu Police Station, Ikorodu, Lagos State.
According to the statement, the woman and her child were arrested in place of her husband, Mr. Sodeeq Atanda, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
“Mrs. Atanda and her nine-month-old baby were unlawfully arrested and detained by police officers when her husband was not at home, even though neither of them was a suspect or accused of any offence,” the statement said.
IPI Nigeria alleged that police operatives tracked Mrs. Atanda and her child to their neighbourhood and arrested them despite the absence of any legal basis for their detention.
“The action of the police amounted to an illegal arrest by proxy, which is expressly prohibited under Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and Section 36 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020,” the institute said.
The organisation further alleged that Mrs. Atanda was harassed and subjected to psychological pressure while in custody.
“She was reportedly coerced to falsely inform her husband that their baby was gravely ill, in an attempt to lure him out,” the statement said.
“The only ‘offence’ committed by Mrs. Atanda and her child was their relationship to a journalist,” IPI Nigeria added.
The institute expressed particular concern that the officers involved were attached to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit, noting that the unit had recently been directed by the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, to engage with IPI Nigeria following complaints of rising harassment of journalists.
“It is deeply troubling that officers from a unit mandated to address concerns about police misconduct against journalists were themselves implicated in this abuse,” the statement said.
In protest, IPI Nigeria announced the suspension of all engagements with the Nigeria Police Force until there is “clear evidence of accountability and renewed respect for press freedom.”
The institute said Mrs. Atanda and her baby were released only after Mr. Atanda presented himself at the police station, after which he was arrested and detained.
“Mr. Atanda was later released following IPI Nigeria’s intervention,” the statement said.
IPI Nigeria demanded a public apology to Mrs. Atanda and her child, adequate compensation, and the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of all officers involved.
“We demand that all officers found culpable be sanctioned, including dismissal from service where appropriate,” the institute said.
The organisation also called on the police to allow Mr. Atanda to carry out his journalistic duties without intimidation and urged the force to refrain from intervening in civil or commercial disputes better handled by the courts.
IPI suspends engagements with Police over arrest of journalist’s wife, nine-months-old son
