Maureen Okpe
The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has suspended all engagements with the Nigeria Police Force following the arrest and detention of a journalist’s wife and her nine-month-old baby in Lagos.
IPI Nigeria announced the decision on Tuesday while condemning what it described as the unlawful arrest and detention of Mrs Adenike Atanda and her infant by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the IGP Monitoring Unit.
Mrs Atanda was reportedly detained for several hours on Monday at the Owutu Police Station in Ikorodu, Lagos State, after police officers allegedly tracked her to her neighbourhood and arrested her in place of her husband, Mr Sodeeq Atanda, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
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In a statement signed by its President, Musikilu Mojeed, and Legal Adviser, Tobi Soniyi, IPI Nigeria said neither Mrs Atanda nor her baby was a suspect or accused of any offence, describing the action as an illegal “arrest by proxy” prohibited under Nigerian law.
“This arrest constitutes a clear and unlawful arrest by proxy, in violation of Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and Section 36 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020,” the organisation said.
IPI Nigeria further alleged that Mrs Atanda was harassed and psychologically pressured while in custody, claiming officers attempted to coerce her into falsely telling her husband that their baby was gravely ill in order to lure him to the station.
“Their only ‘offence’ was their relationship to a journalist,” the statement added, noting that the incident amounted to a grave violation of press freedom and human rights.
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Describing the incident as particularly disturbing, IPI Nigeria said it occurred barely weeks after it listed the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in its “Book of Infamy” for violations of press freedom, adding that the same IGP Monitoring Unit involved in the incident had been mandated to engage with the institute on improving police–media relations.
“In protest against this gross abuse of power, IPI Nigeria has suspended all engagements with the Nigeria Police Force until there is clear evidence of accountability, respect for the rule of law, and an end to hostility towards journalists,” the organisation declared.
IPI Nigeria disclosed that Mrs Atanda and her baby were released only after Mr Atanda presented himself to the police, after which he was arrested and detained before being released following the intervention of the institute.
The organisation demanded a public apology and compensation for Mrs Atanda and her baby, as well as the arrest, prosecution and dismissal of all officers involved in the incident.
It also warned the police to stop interfering in civil or commercial disputes and to allow journalists to carry out their duties without intimidation.
“The persistent abuse of power by police officers thrives largely because acts of misconduct are rarely punished,” IPI Nigeria said, urging the Inspector-General of Police to take decisive action to restore public confidence and demonstrate a genuine commitment to accountability and press freedom.