by Akan Ido

In a situation reminiscent of the Sani Abacha days when journalists were hounded and newspaper houses shut, reports coming in from the South-south offices of The Nation newspapers indicate that soldiers have impounded vehicles and seized newspapers belonging to the media company.

Reports say soldiers attached to the 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army at Okwuokoko, Delta State seized vehicles conveying today’s papers to Warri and Benin City.

A detachment of troops also stormed The Nation’s circulation depot located on Effurun, Sapele in search of the newspapers and the company’s staff.

This is coming hours after the management of Leadership Newspapers cried out over a similar attack by security operatives who tried to disrupt the circulation of its papers earlier today.

Read the Nation report below:

A source at the Effurun Barracks told our reporter that the troops were acting on “orders from above.”

It was further learnt that troops also invaded the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Benin in a similar mission to seize Friday’s edition of the paper.

Our correspondent in Benin, Mr. Ben Ogbemudia, said, “as I text you they have laid ambush in Benin waiting for the company’s newspapers.”

It is not clear why this is happening and there have been no official statement from the military headquarters to address the situation.

Both The Nation and Leadership Newspapers are believed to be owned by key members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).