Police arrest Akwa Ibom newspaper distributor

– Tamarauemi Ebimini

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Akwa State command, on Friday arrested a newspaper distributor, Mr Chidi Ngadiubia, and detained him at Ikot-Akpan Abia, allegedly on the order of the State government.

It was gathered that Ngadiubia was picked up at his distribution point by the operatives who were trailing to arrest the publisher of the Mail newspaper, Mr. Ifreke Nseowo, over alleged offensive publications.

According to the report, a female caller had tricked the publisher, who had been on the run, by telling him she has an advert for him for publication in his paper.

The source added that the caller was referred to drop the advertisement materials with the newspaper distributor to be picked up at a later date.

But on arrival at Mr Ngaduibia’s distribution point, they arrested and dragged him to the Police Headquarters Ikot Akpanabia, in Uyo, the state capital, and asked him to produce the publisher, else he will be made to face the wrath for connivance.

Recalled that the plot to arrest the publisher had been widely reported by other local tabloids in the state, who had alleged that the State government is not happy with certain publications of the newspaper as it relates to the PDP candidate Umo Uno’s alleged certificate forgery scandal.

Meanwhile, Federated Chapel of which Ifreke Nseowo is a member has condemned in strong terms the manner in which journalists are being hounded in the state.