LAGOS, Nigeria – The dark days of the military appear to have returned as President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered soldiers to take over the premises of Daily Trust Newspapers in Lagos, Abuja and Maiduguri.
Buhari begins clampdown on the media as soldiers take over Daily Trust offices in Lagos, Abuja, Maiduguri
We gathered that the soldiers also kidnapped reporters stole computer systems and other items. It is not clear why the military men have decided to unleash mayhem on the media just few days to the 2019 election.
The siege is taking place less than 12 hours after the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari is planning to muzzle the press and free speech as part of his self-succession plot.
The armed soldiers according to sources not only sealed off the newspaper premises but also seized every computer in sight, rounded up the staff and marked them out of the office.
We gathered that some of the reporters have been abducted by the Nigerian military over reports of pending military offensive in Baga, others. As at the time of filing this report, we gathered that Daily Trust office in Maiduguri has been shut down, with the whereabout of reporters unknwon.
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The soldiers have also taken over Lagos Office at Acme road, very close to PM news.
“Similarly, at Daily Trust headquarters in Abuja, armed soldiers besieged the premises, carted away computers and held the staff hostage for about four hours before they eventually left the premises.
“At about 9pm, it was observed that a total of seven security operatives’ vehicles have been stationed within and outside the Lagos office of Daily Trust situated at the Textile Labour House, Acme Road, Agidingbi in Ikeja, Lagos”, Daily Trust reported.
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