Clinton seeks release of American in Nigeria
On the heels of a similar letter sent by Sen Charles Schumer (D-NY) yesterday, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) has sent one today to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about journalist Andrew Berends, who is being held by Nigerian authorities. The letter does not mention Samuel George, Berends’ translator, but George is also in police…
CPJ demands release of journalist and translator
New York, September 4, 2008–U.S. documentary filmmaker Andrew Berends was filming women going to the market in a public waterside area of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, when he was detained by the Nigerian military, according to e-mails sent by the journalist to his editor. In the e-mails, which have been reviewed by the Committee to Protect…
Schumer pushes for release of journalist in Nigeria
Freelance American journalist Andrew Berends and his translator, Nigerian Samuel George have been in the custody of Nigerian State Security Services in Port Harcourt since they were arrested on August 31. Berends, an award-winning filmmaker, legally entered Nigeria in April to complete a documentary called “Delta Boys” about the region’s oil conflict. Sen. Charles Schumer…
Journalist and media worker detained in Port Harcourt
New York, September 2, 2008–Freelance American filmmaker and journalist Andrew Berends and his translator, Nigerian Samuel George, remain in the custody of Nigerian state security services in Port Harcourt today. The Nigerian military arrested Berends and George on the afternoon of August 31 and transferred them to the State Security Services, local journalists told CPJ.
Film crew arrested along Niger Delta
New York, April 14, 2008—Four American documentary filmmakers and a Nigerian citizen were arrested by the Nigerian military in Delta State on April 12. The Seattle-based film crew is currently in the custody of state security in Abuja, local journalists told CPJ. The film crew for a documentary called “Sweet Crude” was traveling by boat…
Attacks on the Press 2007: Nigeria
Nigeria’s diverse and freewheeling press weathered a tense political period in 2007, a year marked by fierce disputes surrounding April presidential and legislative elections and a surge of violence in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. Ruling party candidate Umaru Yar’Adua was declared winner of the April 21 presidential vote, the first transfer of power between…
Nigerian editor charged with sedition, jailed
New York, January 29, 2008—Authorities in Nigeria’s southern Akwa Ibom State sent a journalist to prison on Monday on sedition charges, according to local journalists and news reports. The move was part of a crackdown launched by the state government in response to a story alleging corruption by the state governor. The newspaper’s distributor was…
Nigerian newspaper distributor arrested, charged
New York, January 25, 2008—A court in Nigeria’s southern Akwa Ibom State today lodged criminal charges against a newspaper distributor over a story not-yet published. The article was critical of the state governor, according to local journalists. The court in Uyo sent the distributor, Essien Asuquo Owoh, to prison. Owoh, the owner of Ezedom Enterprise,…