HURIWA Demands IGP’s Sacking After Violent Arrest, Detention Of THE WHISTLER Female Journalist

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has called for the sacking of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, following the reported violent attack and illegal detention of Kasarahchi Aniagolu — a female journalist with THE WHISTLER newspapers.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said in a statement on Wednesday that police officers are not above the law and must comply with relevant laws in discharging their duties.

THE WHISTLER had condemned the unlawful arrest and detention of the journalist and called thorough investigation into the incident.

“Ms. Aniagolu was performing her journalistic duties while filming a raid on Bureau de Change (BDC) operators in Wuse Zone 4 on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.

“Despite clearly identifying herself as a journalist, she was manhandled and threatened, and her equipment was confiscated. She is currently being held at the Anti-Violence Crime Unit
(former SARS office) in Guzape.

“We are deeply disturbed by the complete disregard for press freedom by the Nigeria Police Force and the blatant violation of Ms. Aniagolu’s fundamental rights. The physical assault and threats to her life are utterly unacceptable and a direct attack on independent journalism.

“Furthermore, the conflicting statements regarding the operation from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) headquarters and the FCT Police Command raise serious concerns about accountability and transparency,” the press release partly reads.

HURIWA, on its part, frowned at “the unwarranted aggression against this innocent female journalist Ms. Aniagolu as absolutely intolerable, despicable, reprehensible, primitive and disappointing and has called for her immediate unconditional release and the enforcement of administrative sanctions on the operatives who inflicted the physical, psychological and emotional torture on her. HURIWA reminded the police that torture is absolutely unconstitutional.”

Onwubiko said, “HURIWA has also expressed consternation that since the president appointed and confirmed his friend and kinsman Mr. Kayode Egbetokun as the Inspector-General of Police, the levels of indiscipline, unprofessional conducts, bribery and corruption and gross human rights violations of the fundamental human rights of citizens guaranteed under chapter 4 of the 1999 constitution, the Universal Declaration of human rights, African human and peoples Rights and the international Covenant on civil and political rights domesticated by Nigeria as our Municipal laws, have heightened and regretted that the police operatives now behave as if they are above the laws of Nigeria.,” the rights group added.

HURIWA further demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Ms. Anaigolu and an unreserved apology from the Leadership of The Nigeria Police Force.

The statement reads further, “The Rights group said today’s arrest, humiliation and physical torture of the journalist with THE WHISTLER newspaper, is only but one amongst the dozens of incidents that the ruthlessly lawless, unprofessional and largely undisciplined police operatives and their officers who permit impunity have carried out just as the Rights group has called on president Tinubu’s government to put an end to these incessant abuses of the constitutional rights of the citizens by the police.

“We call on the National Assembly and the president to immediately reconstitute the governing board of the police service commission so the council when constituted by the President with men and women of the highest standards, merits, competencies, and respectability, will be in a good position to enforce discipline and professionalism in the increasingly deteriorating operational and disciplinary standards of the Nigerian policing institution. Once more, we condemn this egregious violation of the legal and constitutional rights of this female journalist Ms. Aniagolu. “