By CrossRiverWatch Admin
Press Release
Gentlemen of the press, at about 4:25pm today, 22/08/2019, men of the Nigerian Police identified to as Intelligence Response Team (IRT), in a commando style, invaded the privacy of one of us, Mr. Agba Jalingo, Editor-in-Chief/Publisher of CrossRiverWatch and criminally whisked him away.
We have been reliably informed that the they have concluded plans to move him to Calabar by road.
We are aware that this is not unconnected with the recent invitation extended to him by the Police Command in the State over a publication about the Cross River State Microfinance bank, a matter which both parties agreed to meet on Monday 26/08/2019.
It is worrisome that while the Police in the State agreed to Mr. Jalingo’s request to meet on 26/08/2019, they still went ahead and facilitated his illegal arrest in Lagos three days before the date he agreed to honour their invitation.
The Association of Cross River Online Journalists – ACROJ strongly condemn this gestapo and undemocratic manner employed by the Police to intimidate and stampede journalists back into the dark era.
We will employ every legal means possible to resist this kind of intimidation and harassment by certain undemocratic elements masquerading in democratic toga.
While we call on the Inspector General of Police to beam his search light into the level of harassment, intimidation and rampant illegal detention of journalists going on in Cross River State, we also wish to inform the IGP to ensure that nothing happens to Mr. Jalingo.
Finally, we will ensure we collaborate with all our international partners, press freedom lovers and supporters all over the world to draw attention to the level of violation of human rights and freedom of the press in the State.
The power of the pen is mightier than the sword and must prevail above the wishes of a few greedy.
Signed:
Edem Darlington
Chairman, Association of Cross River Online Journalists- ACROJ