IPC denounces DSS harassment of executive director at Lagos Airport

The International Press Centre (IPC) has denounced the recent incident of harassment faced by its executive director, Lanre Arogundade, in the hands of Department of State Services (DSS) officials at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.

In a statement released on Tuesday, April 16, and signed by Melody Akinjiyan, the Press Freedom Officer of IPC, the organisation expressed concern over the incident which occurred on Thursday, April 11, 2024.

Arogundade was preparing to board a late-night Air France Flight to Berlin, Germany, to participate in the general meeting and conferences of the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) and the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX).

The statement highlighted that Arogundade, a renowned journalist and advocate for social justice and democracy, faced unwarranted harassment despite his notable contributions to journalism and civil society.

Arogundade had previously served as chairman of the Lagos State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists and as President of the National Association of Nigerian Students.

Quoting Arogundade’s account of the encounter in a Facebook post, the statement revealed that he was subjected to approximately 40 minutes of harassment by DSS officials who claimed his name was still on their watchlist, despite assurances two years prior by the Director General of the DSS, Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi, that his name had been removed.

Additionally, Arogundade reported that a senior DSS official demanded to see his old passports and threatened to prevent him from traveling unless he complied with the request, which he described as “bizarre and ridiculous.”

IPC asserted that such persistent harassment violates Arogundade’s fundamental right to freedom of movement and undermines democratic principles. The organization called on the Director General of the DSS, as well as his officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, to cease further harassment of Arogundade.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding press freedom and the rights of journalists, both domestically and internationally.