Nigerian Journalist, Emmanuel Ikodor, detained by Police in Lagos

Nigerian rights activists have called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of journalist, Emmanuel Ikodor, who has been detained by the police at the FCID Alagbon in Ikoyi area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

Mr. Ikodor, who works for U.S. based newspaper, Today News Africa, was arrested on February 24 while on his way to conduct interviews with rights activists in Yaba area of Lagos.

The detained journalist’s lawyer, Mr. George Kelechi, blasted the police in a statement to journalists, saying that his client’s detention was illegal and unconstitutional.

According to him, there was no warrant of arrest and no prior invitation for him to appear at the station.

Police said he was being detained for some unspecified false publications.

Mr. Ikodor has written several articles in recent months on Boko Haram, a terror organization that has killed tens of thousands of people around the Lake Chad Basin.

President Muhammadu Buhari had promised to crush Boko Haram and free the Chibok girls, but so far, he has not been successful.

Kemi Ikodor, the journalist’s wife and their three children have not been able to see the detained journalists.