afrol News, 26 October - The governor of the northern Nigerian state of Borno has been at daggers end with media rights watchdogs over harassment of journalists.

After grilling him over lavish spending, Governor Ali Modu Sheriff decided to hound a host of journalists, including James Garuba and Michael Olabode of the Tribune and This Day, respectively, for the past 10 days. The journalists were arrested by the State Security Service (SSS) who placed them nder its daily control.

“Such autocratic behaviour on the part of a governor is a disturbing sign for democracy in Nigeria,” Reporters Without Borders said. “It is intolerable that provincial authorities can do as they wish with journalists and that the SSS carries out their dirty work. The despotic excesses of certain governors must stop obstructing press freedom.”

The state security operatives on 15 October raided a series of newspapers before taking away several journalists to the headquarters of Borno state for criticising Sheriff for spending over N1.2 milllion naira [6,000 euros] on gifts for his supporters for Ramadan. The journalists described this as waste, especially in a largely under-developed state.

The SSS repeated the raids a few days later, again forcing the journalists to accompany them. “They were held for several hours” and were “made to write statements explaining how they got wind of the affair,” a correspondent of the privately-owned 'Daily Independent', told RSF.

They were finally released, but on the condition that they report to SSS headquarters every day.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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