OneWorld.net (U.S.)

OneWorld.net note: An award-winning U.S. journalist covering "the economic and ecological disaster" taking shape in a strategic oil-producing region of Nigeria was arrested this week on spying charges along with his local interpreter.

• A fisherman in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. © usnico (flickr)

  "Environmental experts warn gas flaring by the Nigerian oil industry in the southern Delta region causes acid rain, respiratory infections, skin diseases, and land degradation in dozens of local communities, but some environmentalists defend the country's right to continue flaring," writes a UN news agency.

• In addition to environmental concerns, the Niger Delta has long been plagued by conflict as a number of militant groups have been staging brutal attacks on oil facilities to demand a greater share of the region's oil wealth. In response to the violence, the Nigerian government backed armed gangs, a tactic that has largely resulted in further abuses and civilian casualties. Although the deployment of state security forces has calmed the rampant violence, the oil-rich region remains restive, extremely underdeveloped, and poor.
  

• To read more background on the environment, development, and conflict in Nigeria, visit OneWorld UK's Nigeria country guide. 

US filmmaker and interpreter arrested in Port Harcourt on spying charge

From: Reporters Without Borders

2 September 2008 

Reporters Without Borders condemns the arrest of US freelance journalist and filmmaker Andrew Berends and his Nigerian interpreter, Samuel George, in the southeastern city of Port Harcourt on 31 August on a spying charge. Berends was provisionally released after 36 hours but was told to report back to the State Security Service in Port Harcourt this morning. George is still being held.

"Berends was arrested just for doing his job and no other reason," Reporters Without Borders said. "It is absurd for the authorities to think that, by arresting him and his interpreter, they can conceal the economic and ecological disaster unfolding in the Niger Delta. Both of them must be freed at once and left alone. This is the third time in a year that baseless charges of spying have been brought against foreign journalists."

After being arrested on the Port Harcourt waterfront, Berends and George were detained in appalling conditions in a cell at the local headquarters of the State Security Service. They were given no food and very little water, and were subjected to repeated interrogation that prevented them from sleeping.

Berends' equipment, telephones and film were confiscated. He was freed provisionally yesterday but was told to return to the SSS office at 9 a.m. today. In a brief email message which he managed to send after being released, he said he had been charged with spying. His interpreter was not released.

The winner of several awards, Berends has been in the Niger Delta since April making a film about this strategic oil-producing area where government forces and armed separatists have been fighting for years.

Four US documentary filmmakers and their Nigerian fixer were held for six days on spying charges for the same reason in April. And two German journalists and a US activists were detained for two weeks in September 2007 for similar reasons.

To read more about freedom of the press in Nigeria, visit Reporters Without Borders.