Four out of the five vendors who were arrested by security operatives in the early hours of Monday, at Rotobi street by Douglas road in Owerri, Imo state, have been released.
Their arrest was linked to the selling of newsletters, pamphlets allegedly containing information produced by Pro-Biafra groups of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Vendors have since stopped selling these newsletters over fear of being arrested.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Newspapers Distribution Association, Imo state chapter has expressed their readiness to partner with security operatives over insecurity in the state.
Chairman of the chapter, Ikechukwu Tasie, made this statement in Owerri while condemning the arrest of five of his members in early hours of Monday.
He echoed that harassment of their members started two weeks ago, while disclosing that efforts have been made to reach out to the government for partnership.
“If the government is saying don’t sell this particular paper because of insecurity, let us know, let us interface and how to solve this whole issue.
“However, we condemn what happened on the arrest of our members, do you know that even the government-owned newspapers, Statesman newspapers were confiscated.”
He also stated that the chapter will proceed on a strike on Tuesday, while expressing the need for security agencies to inform them about any newspaper they do not want them to sell.
