Tobias Sylvester
The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly arrested and detained the director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Lanre Arogundade, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Lanre Arogundade Arrested By DSS
The ICP Director, who disclosed this on his Facebook page, said he was detained by DSS operatives around 3:30 pm on Thursday, February 10, immediately he returned to Nigeria from the Gambia where he had gone to train journalists on conflict-sensitive reporting.
Arogundade wrote, “This is me at the DSS office at the International Airport Lagos where I’m being held or detained against my wish.
“I have just returned from Banjul where I went to train Gambian journalists on conflict-sensitive journalism.
“Ever since the days of military rule, I get molested by DSS and Immigration at the airport. This nonsense has to stop!”
Arogundade also said his passport was seized. But it isn’t yet clear why he was detained and the DSS is yet to officially comment on the development.
Lanre Arogundade Released From DSS Detention
After a few hours, the IPC Director confirmed his release on his Facebook page, adding that his passport was also returned.
He wrote, “To all… thanks. My passport has been returned by the DSS and I’m now leaving the airport despite arriving since 3:30pm. I will update further.”
KanyiDaily had also reported how a former Lagos council chairman, Asekun Kehinde Sakiru, was caught with cocaine hidden in pairs of slippers at the Lagos Airport.
