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Security Agents Seek To Censor
Publications
Anambra State operatives of the State Security Services (SSS), Nigeria's
intelligence service, are attempting to stop the circulation of
publications that carry information on the Movement for the Actualisation
of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
The SSS recently invited newspaper and magazine distributors'
representatives in the commercial town of Onitsha, Anambra State, to Awka,
the state capital, where they were asked to stop selling publications that
carry articles on MASSOB. The SSS agents told the vendors that such
publications were illegal and noted that, if they stopped selling them,
people would not have access to them.
Chief Christian Ikpe, the chairman of newspaper distributors in Onitsha,
who led the vendors' delegation, said security agents tried to compel them
to stop selling all pro-MASSOB publications.
Chief Ikpe said the newspaper vendors told SSS officials that it would be
difficult for newspaper distributors to follow the directive as they are
not publishers and therefore do not have control over the publications. He
said they advised the SSS to trace the publishers of the pro-MASSOB
publications instead of putting pressure on vendors.
For several months, the SSS has been harassing and arresting distributors
for selling newspapers and magazines that publish articles concerning
MASSOB
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