Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
Journalist Edna Ulaeto of OrderPaper was arrested on Friday by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in connection with a false report she authored regarding alleged moves to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Truth Live News gathered that some masked and armed, DSS officials allegedly raided Ms. Ulaeto’s residence, detained her, and took her to an undisclosed location. Neighbors who tried to intervene or record the event were warned to delete their footage or face arrest.
“The young lady was forcefully taken away while still in casual nightwear, causing distress to her family and neighbors,” the statement said.
The arrest stems from an article by Ms. Ulaeto, which incorrectly claimed that the DSS conducted a raid at the National Assembly to block attempts to unseat Senate President Akpabio. Despite the newspaper retracting the story and issuing a public apology, the DSS proceeded with Ms. Ulaeto’s arrest.
The incident serves as a cautionary tale for journalists, and brings to the fore, the importance of verifying information before publication. While the newspaper claims the arrest violates press freedom and human rights, the incident also highlights the consequences of spreading unfounded news. Civil society and international bodies have been urged to monitor the situation.