by 
The Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ, an American independent press freedom group, has lent its voice to condemn the arrest and subsequent detention of Premium Times reporter Samuel Ogundipe by the Nigerian Police.
In a statement, on Wednesday, CPJ urged the Nigerian Police to immediately release the detained journalist stressing that Ogundipe is a journalist and not a criminal
Angela Quintal, CPJ Africa Program Coordinator, speaking from Johannesburg, South Africa said “CPJ is gravely concerned by reports that Premium Times journalist Samuel Ogundipe was detained by Nigerian Police yesterday for his reporting.
Quintal said “Journalists are ethically bound not to disclose their confidential sources and the fact that police reportedly arrested him because he refused to name his source is outrageous”.
She added that “Samuel Ogundipe, is a journalist who is protecting his sources, and not a criminal. He must be freed now”.
CPJ also “condemn the harassment of his Premium Times colleagues and urge authorities to respect the right to a free press in Nigeria”.
Recall that Mr Ogundipe was arrested on Monday after he refused to disclose his source over a recent story he wrote.
The story was about the preliminary report on SSS National Assembly siege which IGP Idris was to submit to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
In the report published on Premium Times by Samuel Ogundipe, Mr Idris was quoted as saying that the recently sacked security chief Mr Daura was working for some politicians for selfish interest, but did not name the accomplices.
Mr Idris allegedly added that Mr Daura did not consult with other security agencies before ordering the siege, and questioned the validity of a security report that allegedly anticipated a violence at the parliament.
