Nigeria orders army out of paper's offices amid arrests

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Nigeria's federal government has ordered army troops to leave the premises of an influential newspaper in parts of the country hours after troops stormed the offices of the daily and arrested its top writers over a report the army said breached national security.

"The federal government has directed the military to vacate the premises of Daily Trust and the order has been complied with," said presidential spokesman Garba Shehu late Sunday, as criticisms mounted against the army and the government.

At least four staff of the Daily Trust, a national daily headquartered in the capital city Abuja, were arrested and taken to an unknown location Sunday.

The arrests occurred hours after the paper published a report detailing military preparations to launch an offensive against resurgent Boko Haram terrorists.

Shehu said, "Issues between the military and the newspaper as they affect the coverage of the war in the Northeast will be resolved through dialogue."

In a statement early Monday, the army said the invasion of the newspaper's offices were not aimed at intimidating the press but insisted that media reports must consider concerns for national security and safety of the troops.

"The disclosure of classified security information amounts to a breach of national security and runs contrary to Sections 1 and 2 of the Official Secrets Act," army spokesman Sani Usman said in the statement.

"[The report] afforded the Boko Haram terrorists prior notice of our plans and giving them an early warning to prepare against the Nigerian military, thus sabotaging the planned operations and putting the lives of troops in imminent and clear danger.

"We, therefore, advise all, particularly journalists, not to worry but engage in their responsive reportage and to be professional as the Nigerian Army has no intention of muzzling the press or jeopardizing press freedom. We, however, wish to enjoin further that they should eschew jeopardizing national security in their reportage. We would not tolerate a situation where a publication would consistently side with terrorists and undermine our national institutions," the statement read.