By Ayo Kehinde
The President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr Mustapha Isah has intervened to secure the release of Mr the Lanre Arogundade from detention at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport by the Immigration and DSS.
Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, was detained at the MMI,and prevented from entering the country for no just cause.
My Arogundade was on his way from The Gambia where he recently organised a training for journalists there on Conflict Sensitive Journalism, when he was held and prevented from entering the country.
According to Mr Isah; I just spoke with the head of DSS at the airport through Lanre’s phone. He said it was a case of mistaken identity and that they had no case against him. He has been released after an apology and his passport about to be stamped for him to leave.
Lanre told me this was not the first time this was happening.
I told the officer when a case of mistaken identity happens all the time, it means something is wrong. The Guild of Editors totally condemns this harassment. Lanre Arogundade is doing a tremendous job in promoting media freedom in Nigeria. We are fully behind him.”
According to Arogundade in a tweet; “This is me at the DSS office at the International Airport where I am being held or detained against my wish . I have just returned from Banjul where I went to train journalists on Conflict sensitive journalism. Ever since the day of military rule I get molested by DSS and Immigration at the airport. This nonsense must stop.”
