Mr Tife Owolabi, a Correspondent of Reuters News Agency, quizzed by operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) in Yenagoa has been released, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Owolabi, who confirmed his release to a NAN Correspondent on Monday in Yenagoa, said that his personal computer, tablet device, cameras, external hard drives and memory cards were still in the custody of the DSS.
“They came to my place and searched the apartment and carted away my work tools, including my mobile phones and detained me and said that they had suspicion that I was engaged in espionage for foreign concerns.
“I had no fears because I am sure I have not done anything contrary in the discharge of my duties as a journalist; they said I was unpatriotic and held on to my working tools.
“I am hoping that they will release those items when I return to their office later today; I express my gratitude to fellow journalists who stood by me and I guess it is one of the hazards of the job,” Owolabi said
When contacted on the development, a top official of the Bayelsa Command of the DSS who declined to be named, said that he was not competent to comment on the issue.
He, however, dismissed the charges of espionage levelled against the reporter by operatives of the DSS who effected his arrest.
“I am not aware of his arrest because I am not the one handling the matter and moreover I am not authorized to speak on operations.
“But I can tell you that if he is accused of espionage, he would not be handled at the state command level,” the official said.
