The Concern Nigerians Group, has lamented that the country was “fast drifting into fascism” under the current Federal Government.
It stated this while condemning the rearrest of Bayelsa State-based journalist and Publisher, Jones Abiri by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS.
Some operatives of the secret police had over the weekend whisked away Abiri, to an undisclosed location. This is coming few months after he was release after two years incarceration.
However, the convener of Concern Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju lamented that people will be tagged enemies of the state for criticizing the government.
A statement signed and forwarded to DAILY POST by Adeyanju reads: “We condemn in its entirety the gestapo manner in which a Bayelsa based Journalist and Publisher, Jones Abiri was re-arrested by men suspected to be men of the Department of State Services.
“Concerned Nigerians condemn the continuous ill-treatment of Jones Abiri who was just performing his civic duties of gathering information for the general public and holding the government accountable.
“The re-arrest of Journalist, Jones Abiri who was released few months ago by a competent court of jurisdiction after a prolonged incarceration by the DSS is a clear affront on press freedom.
“The injustice being meted on Jones Abiri is troubling and it further attests to the fact that Nigeria is fast drifting into fascism where people will be tagged enemies of the state for being critical of the government.
“If this kind of behavior continues, it’s going to result in journalists being afraid to ask questions and people being afraid to stand up for the country.
“A free press is one of the building blocks of our democracy. Without it, democracy is in danger. Nigerians, regardless of their political beliefs, have the right to stand up and ask government tough questions.”
“We urge the the SSS to regard journalism as a noble service and not a crime. We appeal to our security agents to always behave in a mature and professional manner and to avoid arresting and forcing journalists to name their sources for merely doing their job.”
