A popular TV journalist has been arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Siyad Ismail, a journalist attached to the RTN Somali TV was arrested by officers from DCI Wajir over allegations of misreporting facts at the Wajir County General Hospital.
In a statement issued by the local TV channel, the journalist was arrested after he revealed the deplorable conditions at the public hospital facility.
Further reports indicate the detectives were acting under instructions from a powerful county official.
The sleuths further confiscated the journalist's personal laptop and camera.
"Somali TV Wajir correspondent Siyad Ismail arrested for exposing the sad state of Wajir County General Hospital. The DCI under a strict instruction from some county officials confiscated his camera, laptop and phone. Fingerprints taken," reads the statement posted by the TV channel on its twitter page https://twitter.com/rtnsomalitv/status/1108733730636656640?s=19
The arrest has sparked concern from media practitioners who are now calling for his immediate release.
Cases of journalists being harassed by security officers working under orders from government officials are steadily on the rise. If not addressed,such acts might negatively affect the role of the media as public watchdog.