OrderPaper, an online publication focused on Nigeria’s National Assembly, has criticized the Department of State Services (DSS) for its recent invasion of the home of one of its staff members, Edna Ulaeto, and her subsequent arrest.
The media outlet in a statement issued on Friday described how operatives from the DSS forcibly took Ulaeto from her home, although the location was not disclosed.
While it remains unclear whether she is a reporter or not, OrderPaper said it believes the incident may be linked to a story it published regarding a supposed invasion of the National Assembly.
The OrderPaper, which in the statement expressed bewilderment at why Ulaeto was specifically targeted, said that on October 18, 2024, armed individuals claiming to be DSS officers stormed Ulaeto’s residence, abducting her without explanation.
According to the publication, she was taken in her nightwear and was roughly handled, leaving her family and neighbors in shock.
Disturbingly, it appears her phone number had been illegally tracked, a method usually employed against serious criminals rather than innocent media personnel.
“OrderPaper suspects this abduction is related to a recent article that mistakenly reported on a DSS incursion aimed at thwarting an attempt to impeach the Senate President.
“Despite promptly issuing a retraction and public apology, masked men broke into her home, ransacked her belongings, and inflicted significant trauma on her family....Read Full Article [Click Here>]
Witnesses who tried to intervene or document the incident were reportedly intimidated, with some forced to delete footage under threat of arrest.
“The lack of any official communication or notice from the DSS or police raises serious concerns about the legitimacy of the operation.
“Tince her abduction, all attempts to contact Ulaeto have been unsuccessful, heightening fears for her safety.
“This alarming situation has created an atmosphere of fear among the staff at OrderPaper, who now live in uncertainty about what might occur next.
“The publication urgently calls on the public, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and the international community to demand Ulaeto’s immediate release and ensure her safety.
They invite all to condemn this unlawful assault on press freedom and basic human rights before it escalates further.”
This incident follows the arrest of a presenter from Urban FM, Enugu, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Although the station reported that EFCC officials invaded during a live broadcast, the agency denied any wrongdoing, stating the presenter was arrested for evading inquiries into her involvement in a Ponzi scheme that defrauded numerous Nigerians.
