THE Department of State Services (DSS) has detained two Americans and a French for filming a pro-Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) propaganda documentary in the South East geo-political zone without securing the necessary approvals from the Nigerian government; THEWILL, an online newspaper, reported on Tuesday.
The foreign filmmakers, all of Israeli descent, include: Rochman Rudy, Leibman Andrew Jared, who entered the country via the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos on Business visas issued on their American passports and Benaym Edouard David, with a Business visa on his French passport, were detained by DSS officers on July 9, 2021 in Ogidi, Anambra State, while illegally filming the pro-separatist group’s propaganda documentary.
According to a Nigerian security source who confirmed the arrest of the foreigners to THEWILL, Rochman, is believed to be working for i24 news channel, while Liebman is a popular YouTuber and Benaym is an independent videographer.
The source, who asked not be identified, said they were transported to Abuja after their arrest and remain in the custody of the DSS though Benaym, who has a serious health condition, has been handed over to the Embassy of France in Abuja, who have promised to make him available whenever the DSS wants him, our source said.
THEWILL was not able to determine as at the time of this report whether they would be charged to court or just allowed to leave the country.
According to the newspaper, DSS spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, did not respond to a request to comment on the development.
