A human rights defender and conflict reporter from Plateau State, Lawrence Zongo, has been reportedly arrested by the Nigerian Army. According to sources, Mr Zongo was taken into custody on Monday at the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba Barracks, which houses the headquarters of the Nigerian Army's 3 Division in Jos. He had visited a military medical facility in Jos to see relatives injured in an attack in Bassa Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred after relatives of Mr Zongo were attacked in Miango, Bassa LGA, on Sunday night. One of his first cousins was among those injured and later died from injuries sustained in the attack. Sources alleged that soldiers arrested Mr Zongo while he was at the facility, and he has remained in custody without being formally charged. They also claimed that he had been denied access to his lawyers and family members.
The claims of Mr Zongo's detention could not be independently verified as of Wednesday afternoon. However, sources familiar with the incident confirmed that he had been taken into custody. Mr Zongo has for years documented insecurity and alleged human rights abuses in Plateau State. He has worked as a conflict reporter and human rights documenter, including with TruthNigeria, and as a volunteer with Amnesty International.
PREMIUM TIMES contacted the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army's 3 Division, Victor Olukoya Victor, to verify the reported detention. However, Mr Olukoya said he was unaware of the development and asked our reporter to call back, saying he was not in a convenient place to speak at the time. Our reporter subsequently sent him text messages, but he did not respond as of the time of filing this report.
A separate report published on Wednesday also alleged that Mr Zongo had been detained, identifying him as a human rights defender and conflict documenter. The report suggested that Mr Zongo was wearing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses when he visited the military facility, which may have contributed to his detention. However, this claim could not be independently verified.
The circumstances surrounding the reported detention remain unclear. The Nigerian Army has not publicly confirmed the reported detention or explained any security action against Mr Zongo. Mr Zongo's reporting has focused extensively on violence and its impact on communities in Plateau, including attacks in Bassa and other parts of the state.
The detention of Mr Zongo has raised concerns about the treatment of human rights defenders and conflict reporters in Nigeria. The incident highlights the challenges faced by those documenting insecurity and alleged human rights abuses in the country. The Nigerian Army's silence on the matter has sparked calls for transparency and accountability.
Key points
- The Nigerian Army has not publicly confirmed the reported detention of Lawrence Zongo.
- Mr Zongo has been documenting insecurity and alleged human rights abuses in Plateau State for years.
- The circumstances surrounding Mr Zongo's detention remain unclear.
