IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT - NIGERIA

16 December 2003

Journalist receives death threats, goes into hiding

SOURCE: Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Windhoek

**MISA and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), as a joint activity,
will henceforth issue alerts, statements and appeals to highlight media
freedom and wider human rights violations in West Africa. See www.misa.org
and www.mediafoundationwa.org for more information**

(MISA/IFEX) - The following is a joint MISA-MFWA alert:

On 11 December 2003, Oluwole Adeboye, a reporter with "P.M. News", an
afternoon daily newspaper in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, fled his
Agege home and has since been in hiding. This follows the publication of a
story with the reporter's by-line about the alleged unprofessional conduct
of Bamidele Adeola, a police constable.

According to MFWA-Nigeria, Adeboye had reported that the police officer
robbed a commercial motorcycle operator of his mobile phone and money.
Following the article's publication, Constable Adeola was arrested and
detained. He was later released, but is said to be facing investigation and
possible dismissal.

"P.M. News" editor Babajide Otitoju told MFWA-Nigeria that several
unidentified persons have since been stalking Adeboye. He has also received
numerous telephone calls threatening him with death for daring to expose the
police officer. The newspaper's management therefore advised the reporter to
go into hiding until his safety can be guaranteed.

MFWA has appealed to the Lagos police administration to investigate the
alleged threats against Adeboye and ensure that he can exercise his
legitimate rights to life, movement and freedom of opinion and expression.

For further information, contact Zoe Titus, Program Coordinator, Media
Freedom Monitoring, MISA, Street Address: 21 Johann Albrecht Street, Mailing
Address; Private Bag 13386 Windhoek, Namibia, tel: +264 61 232 975, fax:
+264 61 248 016, e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.misa.org,
or Kwame Karikari, Executive Director, Media Foundation for West Africa, P.
O. Box LG 730, Legon, Ghana, tel: +233 21 24 24 70, fax: +233 21 22 10 84,
e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.mediafoundationwa.org

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of MISA.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit MISA.
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