A famous CNN TV reporter and presenter of Africa Voices program, Keturah King, was on Tuesday arrested by police at the Leopold Sedar Senghore International Airport in Dakar, Senegal and detained at a police station in the capital. Journalist King who is said to be on a short vacation in Dakar accompanied her boyfriend, a nephew to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, had a bitter confrontation with airport security officers leading to her severe harassment and detention.
King, a British of Nigerian origin was said to have been forcing her way to get access to the departure lounge of the airport without any passport or any identity card to show she was travelling, knowing fully that it’s only reserved for travelers, police sources confirmed.
Bruised on the fingers and leg
Police denied her access, which resulted in a heavy scuffle and led to her suffering some injuries during the struggle. Intervention efforts by the Nigerian ambassador in Senegal failed after the police proceeded to file charges against her. The case file has been submitted to state prosecutors Wednesday.
Journalist King took to social media to spread the information. She took to her twitter account to cry for help and alert the international community as well as the government of Senegal of the incident saying he was locked in a room with groups of male officers who were using profanity towards her, physically manhandling her and telling her to put her phone away and not to record them. She is due to appear in court today, Wednesday 25 May. The journalist shared pictures of her showing bruises on her legs and fingers.
CNN yet to officially comment
CNN’s African Voices highlights the continent's most dazzling trendsetters who create their own subcultures in areas such as travel, fashion, art, music, technology and architecture according to its site.
The cable network is yet to make any statements regarding the incident.
Senegal is one of the most tolerant and press free nations in Africa with media houses producing some of the most critical contents towards the government. Reports are hardly heard of journalists being harassed or physically abused. Though the former French colony is yet to decriminalize defamation, it is gradually moving towards adopting a legislation to give more access to information.