IPC demands release of Publisher, CrossRiverWatch

The International Press Center, Lagos, has denounced the growing crackdown on freedom of expression following the continuing molestation of journalists and the Media by security agencies.

In a Press release by The Association of Cross River Online Journalists – ACROJ, dated August 22, 2019, Mr. Agba Jalingo, Editor-in-Chief/Publisher of CrossRiverWatch was criminally whisked away from Lagos to Calabar over 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 August 26, 2019.

IPC Director, Lanre Arogundade in a statement condemned the arrest; noting that detaining a reporter for doing his job of informing the public is an abuse of power and human rights violation.

He also condemned the fact that Mr Jalingo has been held for more than forty –eight hours without been charged to court.

IPC therefore calls for his immediate release, while in the alternative, he should be charged to court to enable him defend the allegations against him.

IPC Media