Abuja, Nigeria, 06/20 - The Nigerian Navy Sunday confirmed the release of an American journalist, who was arrested by naval personnel Friday for photographing an oil platform in Nigeria`s oil-producing Niger Delta region without permission.
Though Nigerian Navy spokesman, Capt. Obi Medani, said the journalist, whom he did not identify by name, works for Reuters news agency, other reports identified him as Ed Kashi of National Geographic.
Medani said naval personnel arrested the reporter while he was photographing a platform of Italian oil company Agip without the knowledge of either the oil company or the naval authorities.
"The Reuters journalist was arrested taking photographs at the oil company platform. And we have a military facility there. He didn`t tell our local commander there of his intention. So, our personnel had to arrest him to be sure he is no security risk to our personnel out there in the creeks and seas or a risk to the personnel and facilities of the oil company," he said.
"But following the intervention of the Naval Headquarters, the guy has been released," the naval official added.
Medani claimed the journalist and his employers had apologise to the Navy.
