A reporter with British Reuters News Agency has been detained and quizzed by Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Security Service (DSS), in Yenagoa, capital of President Goodluck Jonathan’s home state, Bayelsa. Mr. Tife Owolabi was arrested and detained on Saturday but later regained freedom even as his captors told him to keep a date today.

Owolabi, who confirmed his release today, said that his personal computer, tablet device, cameras, external hard drives and memory cards remained in the custody of the DSS.

The Nigerian Government had been accused of denying the international media visas and accreditation for the coverage of the 2015 general elections but the government denied the claim.

Owolabi believes that his ordeal in the hands of the security services had to do with his work for the foreign media platform.

He said: “They came to my place and searched the apartment and carted away my work tools, including my mobile phones, detained me and said that they had suspicion that I was engaged in espionage for foreign concerns.

“I had no fears because I am sure I have not done anything in the discharge of my duties as a journalist. They said I was unpatriotic and held on to my working tools.

“I am hoping that they will release those items when I return to their office later today, I express my gratitude to fellow journalists who stood by me and I guess it is one of the hazards of the job.”

When contacted on the development, a top official of the Bayelsa Command of DSS who declined to be named said that he was not competent to comment on the development.

He however dismissed the charges of espionage leveled against the reporter by operatives of the DSS who effected his arrest.

“I am not aware of his arrest because I am not the one handling the matter and moreover I am not authorized to speak on operations,” the official said.

“But I can tell you that if he is accused of espionage, he should not be handled at te state command level,” he added.

•Photo shows DSS Spokesperson, Marilyn Ogar.

Update news