BEVERLY HILLS, February 28, (THEWILL) – Independent Newspaper Wednesday said the Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Tony Ezimakor, its Abuja Bureau Chief.
Ezimakor had walked into DSS headquarters in Abuja about 10.30a.m on Wednesday to honour an invitation from the security agency, but since then nothing had been heard from him, a news report on the newspaper’s website said.
“All the management of INDEPENDENT newspapers could confirm was that as at 10p.m on Wednesday, Ezimakor had not been questioned about anything at all. He was shunted from one office to the other, and was asked to wait for a particular officer who had been away from his office.
“Unfortunately, Douglas Ekhator, Independent Newspapers’ lawyer, sent to assist Ezimakor was not allowed to see him even as late as 10p.m.
“That the lawyer took food and water to him could not make the DSS to grant him access to the detainee.
“Meanwhile, the DSS has not explained the reason for his detention,” the report added.
Journalists in Nigeria have been subject of arrests and intimidations by security agencies under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who as a military head of state promulgated a draconian decree that allowed the state clamp down on the free press, the media and journalists.
