Condemnation trails DSS arrest of two journalists in Jos

…Media House Calls Action Illegal, Threat to Press Freedom

By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Jos — Condemnation has trailed the play apprehension and detention of 2 journalists by information operatives portion connected authoritative duty, with a media enactment informing that specified actions correspond a increasing battle connected property state and antiauthoritarian values successful Nigeria.

The absorption of Jay 101.9 FM, wherever the journalists work, emphasized that “the state of the property is the lifeblood of democracy. When journalists are silenced, ideology dies successful darkness.”

The duo, Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang, were picked up by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) during their sum of the burial rites of the precocious parent of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, astatine the Church of Christ successful Nations (COCIN) office successful Jos.

In a connection signed by the station’s Managing Director, Clinton Garuba, Jay FM described the apprehension arsenic “illegal, undemocratic, and unacceptable,” insisting that it violated law guarantees of property freedom, expression, and idiosyncratic liberty.

The presumption said the journalists had gone missing during sum of the ceremonial work earlier it was aboriginal confirmed that they were successful DSS custody. Despite archetypal resistance, efforts to unafraid their merchandise yet succeeded.

Jay FM explained that the journalists were simply carrying retired their nonrecreational duties erstwhile they documented a little incidental involving a cleric and information unit astatine the church.

“As professionals, our unit did what journalists are trained and ethically mandated to do: they documented an incidental connected video for nationalist grounds and accountability,” the connection read.

The vigor presumption condemned the DSS for what it called a unsafe inclination of intimidation and maltreatment of powerfulness against the media, stressing that “the property is not an force of the state.”

It added: “Journalism is simply a nationalist work profession. Our work is to inform, educate, and clasp powerfulness accountable, not to service arsenic mouthpieces of authority. To criminalize this work is to criminalize information itself.”

Jay FM urged the DSS to enactment with civility and restraint, reminding the bureau that Nigeria operates nether civilian rule, not subject dictatorship. It warned that intimidation of journalists sends a chilling connection that undermines ideology and fosters fear.

Reaffirming its commitment, the presumption vowed: “We volition not beryllium intimidated oregon silenced. Our committedness to truth, objectivity, and the antiauthoritarian perfect remains unwavering.”

Jay FM called connected Nigerians, media organizations, and the planetary assemblage to basal successful solidarity with the property and request respect for the regularisation of instrumentality and property freedom.

Meanwhile, it was recalled that information agents astatine the venue initially denied journalists and adjacent clerics entree to the religion for the service. They besides attempted to forestall the COCIN President, Rev. Amos Mohzo, from entering without due identification, starring to a little uproar earlier the substance was resolved.

The station Condemnation trails DSS apprehension of 2 journalists successful Jos appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.