It's
been reported that the
Nigerian government confiscated or destroyed copies of at least four major
newspapers, a media watchdog group said.
"Denying Nigerians
access to news and information sows the seeds of rumors and distrust," Sue
Valentine, the Committee to Protect Journalists' Africa coordinator said on
Friday, citing information on The Punch newspaper's website.
Defense headquarters
spokesman Chris Olukolade said on Friday the military searched trucks carrying
newspapers after receiving intelligence "indicating movement of materials
with grave security implications across the country using the channel of
newsprint related consignments."
The Punch newspaper
accused the military of disrupting distribution of copies on Saturday as well.
"Soldiers ordered
them to go home, insisting that they would not allow the distribution of the
newspapers," the newspaper said in a statement on its website.
CPJ said Nigeria's
Leadership, Vanguard and The Nation newspapers were also affected Friday, among
others. The Daily Trust said delivery truck drivers were arrested Friday.
On Saturday, soldiers
confiscated copies from newspapers including Leadership, This Day, Daily Trust,
Sun, Pilot, Newswatch, and The Mirror, The Punch said. Immediate comment from
Olukolade was not available.
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