Suspected State Security Service operatives on Tuesday arrested a blogger in Akwa Ibom State, in what activists see as as the latest in a string of crackdowns against free speech online.
Emenike Iroegbu, who publishes Abia Facts Newspaper, was arrested in front of his family by men suspected to be attached to the SSS field office in Uyo, the Abia State capital, his wife, Ekaette, told news men.
Mrs. Iroegbu said the officials arrived at about 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday and carried out a search of their apartment.
“They took my husband’s laptops and phones and also seized my two phones as well,” Mrs. Iroegbu said. “They didn’t even enter quietly.”
Mrs. Iroegbu said the officials, numbering three, came in a black SUV which they used to whisk her husband away.
“I was unable to mark down the number plate,” Mrs. Iroegbu said. “I was busy begging them to kindly release one of my phones so I could at least be able to stay in touch.”
News of Mr. Iroegbu’s arrest lit up the social media on Wednesday morning, coming barely a month after Abubakar Usman, a pro-government blogger was arrested in Abuja in similar circumstances.
Although there was no official confirmation from the SSS on her husband’s arrest, Mrs. Iroegbu said she had learnt he had been transferred to Abia State field office of the secret police in Umuahia on Wednesday morning.
“They told me he was transferred to their station in Umuahia this morning, I pray nothing terrible happens to my husband,” she said.
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