by Hauwa Gambo 

“Just tried to intimidate me, but I was calm and unperturbed.”

Broadcasts have been circulating about the arrest of Hassan Rilwan, publisher of Sardauna Magazine and convener of the popular Sardauna Awards, who is based in Abuja.

YNaija reached out to the entrepreneur/publisher and two-time nominee for The Future Award and he confirmed the news was true. 

He explained the reason for the invitation: “It’s because of my magazine with the cover; ‘Fuel subsidy will spark revolt’. No printer accepted to print it in Nigeria; eventually got it printed abroad and as it landed today, the search began for me. I was at the #OccupyNigeria rally when my staff called me that they had intercepted him and were looking for me. I left in a taxi quickly away from current location to make a few contacts to inform them of my impending arrest then went to the office.”

He was picked up around 6pm and was questioned on how he got funding for the magazine and if he was sponsored to destabilise the government.  He claims to have refused to answer any of the questions and was released around 8.40pm.

“They didn’t assault me,” he said. “Just tried to intimidate me, but I was calm and unperturbed. They received a few calls and eventually let me go, though they seized the magazine, which was their aim – to stop distribution. We need to tell the world that there is no Press Freedom in Nigeria despite the Freedom of information Bill,” Rilwan said.