Police in Lagos have arrested the publisher of the Biafra Times newspaper, Peter Eke and seized copies of his publications deemed seditious.
The police also arrested nine others alongside Eke. The nine others who were arrested are: Jamiu Eke, Azeez Ayoola, Akeem Adebakin, Bisi Akeem, Adewumi Temitope, Sakiru Folorunsho, Rafiu Qudus, Kunle Olusola, and Ayodeji Odunyinbo.
They were arrested in a raid on the night of January 29, 2017 at the printing press where the Biafra Times was being printed at No, 33 Oguntolu Street in Somolu.
According to Fatai Owoseni, the Lagos State Police Commissioner, the police arrested Peter Eke, and the nine others for publication and circulation of alleged seditious and malicious information. He added that 515 copies of the offending publication were seized during the raid on the printing press in Lagos.
Owoseni also said that the printing house where the newspaper was being printed has been shut and the premises are being monitored. The Police officer added that, the suspects would be charged to court as soon as detectives finished interrogating them. However, he did not give details about the alleged offending content.
On his part, Eke, who was paraded before the media by the police on January 30, told journalists that he had no intention to promote disunity and disharmony among Nigerians. “I love my country and I love my President. My intention is not to fight my country; I just want to pass out information to those who have no access to the Internet,’’ the publisher said.
The MFWA urges the authorities to release the suspects on bail and to conduct a thorough and credible investigation into the allegations leveled against them.
