DSS released 2 female journalists arrested at the funeral service of the APC Chairperson in JOS

Following a series of anger by the public and the media, the State Service Department (DSS), on Saturday night, freed two female journalists who worked with Jay 101.9 FM, Jos, the state of Plateau, who was arrested while covering the funeral of Nana Lydia Yilwatda, the late Chair of the National APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.

This duo, Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang, was previously reported missing by the station after their arrest by security agents for posting video reports about social media grip Jay FM which showed a battle involving an ulama and several security operations during the funeral service.

With news about journalists who were lost into viral and creating a storm in Jos, DSS had no choice but to release it.

Station management who confirmed their release in a statement on Sunday said after hours of uncertainty, both of them were located in the DSS office in JOS and since then regained their freedom.

“After confirming that DSS holds it, the panic effort is carried out to secure their release. Although our efforts were initially rejected, they were finally released,” said management in a statement signed by the Director of the IT Implementing, Friend Clinton Garuba.

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Garuba, who strongly condemned the arrest of journalists, described it as illegal, non -democratic and oppression of press freedom.

“This event once again encourages us to attract attention to problems that interfere with violations of press freedom, violations of human rights, and erosion of the rule of law by security institutions,” Garuba said.

Jay FM management said their staff was professional and only carried out their duties by doing what journalists would do and ethically mandated to carry out their duties and documents for public records and accountability.

This asks DSS to respect the freedom of the press and act in the law, emphasizing that the press is not an enemy of the state.

“We remind the agency that this country is under civilian government, not a military dictatorship. Security agents exist to protect citizens, not to intimidate or kidnap them.

“For those who use power, we remind you that freedom of the press is democracy of democratic life. When journalists are silenced, democracy dies in darkness,” the statement added.