24 April 2008
analysis
Lagos — The Federal Ministry of Information and Com-munications (FMIC) said yesterday that it did not accredit the four American filmmakers detained on April 12, and later released.
Director of Public Communications, FMIC, Mr Henry Angulu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that thefilmmakers might have disguised theiridentity and purpose of assignment while in the country.
The four Americans - Sandy Cioffi, TammiSims, Cliff Worsham and Sean Porter, were first detained in Sapele, Delta, and later takento Abuja where they were later released .The crew, along with a Nigerian, claimed to be working on a documentary on oilproduction in the Niger Delta.
Angulu, whose directorate handles accreditation of journalists and film crews visiting Nigeria, said it was unfortunate how other nationals flouted the country's laws."From our records, we did not receive any request from the so-called four Americans and their Nigerian collaborator, " he said.
He said that journalists and film makers who entered the country without due clearance were at risk of arrest and other things, which the Nigeria government should not be held responsible.
"Government has a laid down procedure for any visiting crew who wish to carry outa media related assignment in the country and a very important aspect is accreditation from the external publicity department of the FMIC, " he added.
He advised journalists intending to visit Nigeria to take advantage of the servicesoffered by the ministry, including offeringsupport for their work through the residentinformation officers.
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I am one of the people who was illegally detained by the JTF then SSS.
I'd like someone to ask Mr Henry Angulu what he means when he says that we may have been disguising who we were or our purpose in the country. Your readers can know that I was open and complete in all of my paperwork - our four separate pieces of application all stated our intent to film for the documentary Sweet Crude in the Niger Delta. I was warned by some not to be open and honest because the Nigerian military might actually target us… [Read Full Text]