CNN shocked at SSS invasion of Lagos offices.

The Cable News Network on Monday afternoon demanded explanations from the Nigerian government over the invasion of their Lagos offices by State Security Service agents.

The agents were said to have forced their way into the offices of the CNN and British Broadcasting Corporation at noon to stop them from further reporting on the street protests over the removal of fuel subsidy by the Nigerian government.

In a posting on its Twitter handle, CNN wrote, “Nigerian authorities enter CNN Lagos bureau unannounced today. No raids occur. CNN requests explanation and continues to report as usual.”

In postings on its BBC Newshour handle, the BBC wrote, “We’re investigating reports that secret service have forced their way into CNN, BBC building in Lagos, Nigeria.

“We’re talking to our Lagos bureau team now to find out what’s going on. Security services leave BBC, CNN building in Lagos. Correspondent tells us Nigeria wants to keep media on a “short finger”.

A foreign journalist, Sami Sirhan, had also reported the invasion of the media organisations’ offices by the SSS on his Twitter blog.

But, hours after THE PUNCH reported the story, the BBC’s Communications Manager, News, Karen Rosine, said in an email to THE PUNCH that it had found out that SSS operatives did not enter its offices.

She said although it appeared that SSS agents visited the building where the BBC’s offices are located, the medium was not affected.

“Agents appeared to have visited the building but not the BBC office within it,” she wrote.