THE Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Comrade Lanre Arogundade, was on Thursday detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) following his arrival from The Gambia at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. He was however released shortly after.
Comrade Arogundade reportedly arrived the country from The Gambia where he led an IPC team to train Gambian journalists on conflict-sensitive journalism.
Reports of Comrade Arogundade’s arrest were agog on social media Thursday afternoon at between 4 to 5:30pm when it was also reported that he had been released by the DSS.
Arogundade was said to have taken to his Facebook wall to announce his inexplicable detention by the DSS.
The Nigerian Tribune quoted the former student union leader, activist and journalist to have posted on his Facebook wall a post that reads: “This is me at the DSS office at International Airport Lagos where I’m being held or detained against my wish. I have just returned from Banjul where I went to train Gambian journalists on Conflict sensitive journalism. Ever since the days of military rule I get molested by DSS and Immigration at the airport. This nonsense has to stop!”
The newspaper also reported the IPC to have posted a 25-word post on Twitter confirming Comrade Arogundade’s release, adding that his passport has been returned to him.
“The International Press Centre Lagos-Nigeria, confirms that Mr. Arogundade @lanreipc has been released, and his Passport has been returned to him. Thank you all,” the tweet read.
Social media accounts hold that Arogundade’s arrest and detention may be as a result of mistaken identity, although there was no indication of who he was mistaken for.
The Nigerian Tribune quoted the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mustapha Isa, to have stated on Facebook that “the IPC boss was detained on a case of mistaken identity.
“I just spoke with the head of DSS at the airport through Lanre’s phone. He said it was a case of mistaken identity, and that they have no [case] against him.
“He has been released after an apology and his passport is about to be stamped for him to leave the airport.
“Lanre told me that this wasn’t the first time this was happening. I told the officer when a case of mistaken identity happens all the time, it means something is wrong.
“The Nigerian Guild of Editors totally condemns this harassment. Lanre Arogundade is doing a tremendous job in promoting media freedom in Nigeria. We are fully behind him.”
The newspaper also quoted veteran journalist, Richard Akinola, to have confirmed Arogundade’s release.
“Lanre Arogundade has been released. Just spoke with him. Thanks all,” Akinola also said on Facebook.
