Follow Us on Google
• Suspends ties, demands apology, prosecution of officers
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has condemned in strong terms the arrest and detention of Mrs. Adenike Atanda and her nine-month-old baby by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
The incident unfolded on Monday at Owutu Police Station in Ikorodu, Lagos, where officers from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit tracked and seized Mrs. Atanda—wife of Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) reporter, Sodeeq Atanda—while her husband was away from home. Neither the nursing mother nor her infant faced any charges, marking a blatant case of arrest by proxy that flouts Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and Section 36 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020.
Worse still, the officers allegedly coerced Mrs. Atanda to phone her husband with a fabricated claim that their baby was critically ill, using the duo as bait to draw him out. The child endured needless trauma in the process, all because of the family’s ties to journalism.
“This egregious violation of the law was carried out by officers attached to the IGP Monitoring Unit,” IPI Nigeria stated in a release signed by its President, Musikilu Mojeed, and Legal Adviser, Tobi Soniyi. “Ironically, the very unit designated for engagement with IPI Nigeria to address harassment of journalists has now executed one of the most brazen violations of journalists’ rights witnessed in recent times.”
The condemnation comes weeks after IPI Nigeria named IGP Kayode Egbetokun in its Book of Infamy for press freedom abuses. Despite the IGP’s subsequent pledge to improve police-media relations—including tasking the Monitoring Unit with dialogue—IPI has now suspended all engagements with the force pending accountability.
Mrs. Atanda and her baby regained freedom only after Mr. Atanda surrendered to police, who promptly handcuffed and detained him. IPI Nigeria’s intervention secured his release.
In strong demands, the group called for a public apology from the police to the Atandas, adequate compensation for their ordeal, immediate arrest and prosecution of the rogue officers, and their dismissal as a deterrent.
“Persistent abuse of power by police officers thrives largely because acts of misconduct are rarely punished,” the statement warned. “We therefore call on the Inspector-General of Police to act decisively by purging the Force of officers unfit to serve and by demonstrating, through concrete action, a genuine commitment to reform, accountability, and respect for press freedom.”
IPI Nigeria also urged the police to halt meddling in civil disputes, advising complainants to pursue court remedies instead. The body insisted that Atanda must be allowed to work unhindered.
