Nigerian Security Operatives Invade Home of Reuters’ Correspondent in Bayelsa

Men from the Department of State Security (DSS) over the weekend invaded the home of the Niger Delta correspondent of the Thomson Reuters in the Niger Delta, Mr. Tife Owolabi, for alleged espionage.

The security operatives who carted away personal computers and electronics of the correspondent accused of working against the interest of the country.

The DSS men who invaded the house late Saturday night spent over four hours in ransacking the house even as they held him and his wife hostage. The men claimed that they were acting on orders from Abuja.

The DSS men, who did not exactly seem to know what they were really looking for left with the mobile telephones of the Reuters’ correspondent and his wife, Mrs. Jane Owolabi, with other items carted away.

He was later arrested before being released to the custody of the State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of journalists (NUJ) Comrade Tare Akono.

Confirming the development, the Reuters correspondent, Owolabi stated that “the DSS men stormed my apartment on Saturday to conduct a search and claimed it was based on the order from ta Abuja.The DSS men claimed that I am unpatriotic owing to my job and relationship with the Thomas Reuters.”

“They claimed that they gathered that I sent or planning to send “negative” report to the outside world. I believe it is a deliberate clampdown on international journalists. All my working tools including Gadgets, cameras, laptops, iPad and hard drives are with them. I was asked to report back on Monday.”

Source:
ThisDay Newspaper