The Nigerian Army has dismissed reports that 10 journalists were arrested and molested by the Department of State Services, DSS, and Soldiers of the 4 Brigade in Benin, the Edo state capital.
A news platform, not DAILY POST, had earlier reported that a team of DSS operatives and soldiers of 4 Brigade rounded up 10 journalists of Watchdog Newspaper who arrived the state on Monday to cover the rescheduled governorship election fixed for September, 28 2016.
The report said the combined security team invaded Douban hotel located off Airport Road in Benin where these journalists lodged, and arrested them at 2am Wednesday morning.
Recall that the governorship election initially fixed for September 10 was postponed till September 28 by the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, following reports of insecurity.
Reacting to the alleged arrest and harassment, the Army in a statement by its spokesman, Col Sani Usman described the report as false.
Usman insisted that those arrested by the combined security team were alleged hoodlums hired by those who are out to cause havoc during the election.
According to the statement, the hoodlums had on them incriminating and sensitive materials of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, in their possession when they were arrested.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to an online publications alleging that Soldiers of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army and personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) Edo State command of arresting and molesting 10 journalists in Benin, Edo State earlier today.
“This is not correct as the online media did not get their facts right.
“It is important to state that sequel to the prevailing security situation in the state which led to the postponement of the earlier scheduled Gubernatorial Election in Edo State, there were credible security reports that some unpatriotic persons have hired hoodlums with the intention of causing mayhem during the forthcoming election in the State.
“The reports further showed that the suspected hoodlums have been lodged in some hotels within Benin city and its environs.
“Acting on this, the DSS in conjunction with troops of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army carried out cordon and search operations in the suspected areas and this led to the arrest of 10 suspected persons in one of the hotels. Among the suspects arrested was a deserted soldier.
“It is pertinent to state that none of the arrested suspects identified himself as a journalist or mentioned the media he reports for, contrary to the allegations of the online media.”
The Army also disclosed that a number of “incriminating items including INEC sensitive materials were recovered from them.
“That notwithstanding, all the suspects were treated humanely and in the most dignified manner which has always been in accordance with our Code of Conduct and tradition.
“Therefore, none of them was molested at all during the operation and subsequent handing over to the relevant security agency,” Usman added.
Usman further reiterated that the Army under the leadership of Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai will not tolerate any unprofessional and unethical conduct such as harassment and molestation of innocent citizens.
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