Amnesty International fears for Nigerian Translator

[struggle4progress]

UA 247/08 Incommunicado Detention/ fear of torture or ill-treatment

NIGERIA Samuel George (m)

Samuel George, a Nigerian national who had been acting as a translator and guide for a US filmmaker, is being held incommunicado without charge by the States Security Services (SSS). He may be at risk of torture or ill-treatment.

Samuel George had been assisting US journalist and filmmaker Andrew Berends, who, together with his friend Joe Bussio, a Nigerian national, had been filming a documentary in the city of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in the Niger Delta. On 31 August, while filming in the Nembe waterside area of Port Harcourt, the three men were arrested by Nigerian military personnel. The Nigerian authorities have claimed that they had not authorised filming in this area, though Andrew Berends claims they had been given such permission.

The Nigerian military interrogated the three men about the reason for their filming, before handing them over to the SSS, who also questioned them. Joe Bussio and Andrew Berends were detained by the SSS at their Port Harcourt headquarters for 36 hours before being released. They are now required to report to the SSS headquarters every morning and are released each evening. Andrew Berends's passport has been confiscated by the SSS. However, Samuel George has not been seen since his two colleagues were released on 1 September. Andrew Berends and Joe Bussio have said that they believe he is still held at the SSS headquarters. None of the three has been charged with any offence, or brought before a court ...

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