Firdaus Obiremi
The Nigerian Army has defended the arrest of Plateau State-based journalist and Amnesty International volunteer, Lawrence Zongo, accusing him of entering a restricted military facility without clearance and raising security concerns over his use of Meta smart glasses.
Zongo was arrested on October 5 at a military medical facility within Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, headquarters of the Army’s 3 Division in Rukuba, Jos, Plateau State.
The journalist had reportedly visited the facility to see relatives receiving treatment for injuries sustained during an attack in Bassa Local Government Area of the state.
His arrest sparked concerns from Amnesty International, which demanded his immediate and unconditional release, alleging that he had been held incommunicado and that efforts to gain access to him had proved unsuccessful.
However, the Army, in a statement on Friday, maintained that the journalist’s arrest followed his alleged unauthorised entry into the restricted military installation.
The military also identified the Meta smart glasses he was wearing as a potential security concern within the facility.
The Army further disputed suggestions that pressure from Amnesty International and other groups forced it to release the journalist.
Providing additional details about the incident, conflict journalist Masara Kim, in a social media post, said Zongo entered the military facility without the required clearance while wearing Meta smart glasses.
According to Kim, the journalist proceeded towards the hospital and identified himself as an Amnesty International volunteer who had come to visit relatives receiving treatment.
He said military police subsequently questioned Zongo after they reportedly encountered difficulties verifying his claim that the patients were his relatives.
The account, however, could not be independently verified.
Kim also claimed that some military personnel had threatened to charge the journalist with espionage, although the available information does not establish whether he was formally accused of the offence.
He credited interventions by some individuals and groups, including youth leaders Dalyop Mwantiri and Ezekiel Bini, with helping to secure Zongo’s release.
According to him, the interveners appealed to the authorities on the journalist’s behalf and undertook to produce him whenever required for further investigation.
Kim added that Zongo was initially scheduled to be transferred to Abuja on October 9 but was eventually released following the interventions.
He said the investigation was expected to continue and that the journalist might be required to assist with further inquiries.
The Army’s explanation and the accounts surrounding the journalist’s release have yet to provide a complete picture of the legal basis for his detention or the status of the investigation.
Amnesty International had earlier expressed concern over what it described as the arbitrary detention of its volunteer, insisting that his continued detention without access to the outside world raised serious human rights concerns.
In its statement, the organisation called for Zongo to be either handed over to civilian authorities or released immediately.
“Mr Zongo must either be handed over to civil authorities or immediately released,” the organisation said.
The rights group’s position centred on concerns about the journalist’s access to legal protection and the circumstances surrounding his detention.
Although the Army cited security concerns and alleged unauthorised access to a restricted military facility, available information does not establish whether Zongo was formally informed of the grounds for his arrest or granted access to legal representation during his detention.
The incident has renewed questions about how security agencies handle journalists and human rights defenders, particularly when security concerns arise during their activities.
While military installations may impose access restrictions to protect sensitive operations, the circumstances of Zongo’s arrest have highlighted the need for clarity regarding the legal basis for his detention, the safeguards available to him and the outcome of the investigation.
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