IPI Halts Collaboration with Police Following Arrest of Journalist's Wife and Infant Son

Table of Contents

1. Condemnation of Arrest
2. Statement from IPI Nigeria
3. Details of the Unlawful Arrest
4. Psychological Pressure on Mrs. Atanda
5. Concern Over Police Conduct
6. Protest and Demands

The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has denounced the arrest and detention of a journalist’s wife and her nine-month-old baby by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, calling the action unlawful and a serious abuse of power.

In a statement released on Tuesday, signed by IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed and Legal Adviser Tobi Soniyi, the institute reported that Mrs. Adenike Atanda and her infant were held for several hours on Monday at the Owutu Police Station in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

According to the statement, the woman and her child were apprehended 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 while her husband was not at home, despite neither of them being a suspect or accused of any crime,” the statement read.

IPI Nigeria claimed that police operatives tracked Mrs. Atanda and her child to their neighborhood and arrested them without any legal justification for their detention.

“The actions of the police constituted 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 stated.

The organization further alleged that Mrs. Atanda was harassed and subjected to psychological pressure while in custody.

“She was reportedly coerced into falsely informing her husband that their baby was seriously ill, in an attempt to lure him out,” the statement indicated.

“The only ‘offense’ committed by Mrs. Atanda and her child was their connection to a journalist,” IPI Nigeria added.

The institute expressed particular concern that the officers involved were part of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit, noting that this unit had recently been directed by IGP Kayode Egbetokun to engage with IPI Nigeria following complaints of increasing harassment of journalists.

“It is deeply troubling that officers from a unit tasked with addressing concerns about police misconduct against journalists were themselves implicated in this abuse,” the statement said.

In response, IPI Nigeria announced the suspension of all interactions with the Nigeria Police Force until there is “clear evidence of accountability and renewed respect for press freedom.”

The institute stated that 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 noted.

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 guilty be sanctioned, including dismissal from service where appropriate,” the institute emphasized.

The organization also urged the police to allow Mr. Atanda to perform his journalistic duties without intimidation and called on the force to refrain from intervening in civil or commercial disputes that are better resolved by the courts.

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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