Nigeria: Amnesty International Wants SSS to Release U.S. Filmmaker's Aide

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Leadership (Abuja)

8 September 2008
Posted to the web 8 September 2008

George Agba

Amnesty International has asked the Federal Government to charge a Nigerian national, Samuel George, with a recognizable criminal offence or else grant him immediate and unconditional release from detention.

George, a translator and guide for an American filmmaker, Andrew Berends, is said to be presently detained by the States Security Services (SSS) incommunicado without charge.

Amnesty International is expressing fear over his well-being, saying he may be at risk of torture or ill-treatment.

He was said to be arrested alongside Berends and his friend Joe Bussio on August 31, 2008 while filming in the Nembe Waterside area of Port Harcourt by Nigerian military personnel.

According to the human rights organisation, "The Nigerian authorities have claimed that they had not authorized filming in this area, though Andrew Berends claims they had been given such permission."

In a letter urging Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and Director-General of the SSS, Abbas Gadzama, to ensure that the trio are charged to court or released unconditionally, Amnesty International also asked the government, to ensure that George is "not tortured or ill-treated in detention and that he has access to adequate supplies of food, water and medical care without delay."

Explaining how the travail of the trio started, the human rights body stated: "The Nigerian military interrogated the three men about the reason for their filming, before handing them over to the SSS, who also questioned them. Joe Bussio and Andrew Berends were detained by the SSS at their Port Harcourt headquarters for 36 hours before being released.

"They are now required to report to the SSS headquarters every morning and are released each evening. Andrew Berends passport had been confiscated by the SSS. However, Samuel George has not been seen since his two colleagues were released on September 1st. Berends and Bussio have said they believe he is still held at the SSS headquarters. None of the three has been charged with any offence or brought before a court."

Amnesty International further alleged that human rights defenders and journalists regularly face intimidation and harassment in the Niger Delta, citing instances of how "in May 2008 a photographer reportedly working for US-based TV new broadcaster CNN was detained by police for three days before being released without charge.

"The police frequently use torture while interrogating suspects. The police rarely bring suspects to court within 48 hours, as stipulated in Nigeria's panel code," it added.

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