NIGERIA ELECTIONS: Al Jazeera Demands The Release Of Two Journalists Detained By The Nigerian Military
Category: Nigerian National News
Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris and producer Ali Mustafa were
detained in their hotel room after they were returning from covering a story on
the Nigerian forces fighting Boko Haram in Borno State. The story was part of
Al Jazeera’s special coverage on the Nigerian elections.
After military officials questioned the men in their hotel
rooms their camera equipment was confiscated. Both men have been kept in their
hotel rooms and are officially detained until further notice.
According to a reported military statement, both men were
questioned and restrained in their room because they were operating without
“protection, accreditation or due clearance” - despite having just completed
filming with the cooperation of the military.
Additionally, both Ahmed and Mustafa are officially
accredited by the Independent Electoral Commission in Abuja with the clearance
to report from anywhere in Nigeria during the entire election period.
The military statement also said that both men were said to
be ‘loitering’ in various locations, however they were actually detained in
their hotel rooms.
The statement gave a reminder about warnings given to
“foreign” journalists, but both Idris and Mustafa are Nigerian nationals. Idris
has rich experience reporting in northern Nigeria. Last year he was the first
international journalist to reach Chibok and interview families affected by the
mass kidnap of schoolgirls by Boko Haram.
An Al Jazeera spokesperson said: "We call on the
Nigerian authorities to release Ahmed Idris and Ali Mustafa; they have all the
relevant paperwork to report on the Nigerian elections and stories related to
the election. Both men had just finished filming a story on the military with
their cooperation. They were not ‘loitering’, but were in the hotel room and
had only passed through the restricted areas of Yobe and Borno State to get to
Maiduguri."
"Both men are accredited and respected Nigerian
journalists. As Nigerian citizens they are allowed to travel their country
freely. Al Jazeera calls on the authorities to end this matter swiftly by
returning all their equipment and releasing both men without conditions."
Ahmed Idris and Ali Mustafa are part of four Al Jazeera
English teams reporting on the election in Africa’s most populous country and
largest economy.
No comments