On December 4, 2023, Mr. Marcus Fatunmole, News Editor at the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), was arrested by security operatives, including a police officer, from Abuja Property Development Company (APDC), and Ms Ibukun Akindele an official of the privately owned company, 360 Transport for Abuja (360 TFA), while taking pictures of a fleet of luxury buses parked at the car park of the “Eagle Square” in Abuja.
They detained him for six hours at the Central Police Station, Federal Secretariat, Abuja, seized his phone and accessed his Google account.
Marcus was at the Eagle Square to investigate a viral video of old luxury buses allegedly being renovated for mass transit in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and taking pictures when security operatives interrupted and arrested him.
Despite presenting valid identification and confirmation from his editor, Marcus was kept in detention from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The security operatives demanded for letter authorizing him to take pictures at the Eagle Square.
