Nigeria's military has detained two Al Jazeera journalists in Maiduguri, Borno State, since Tuesday, the news outlet stated on Thursday. Al Jazeera stated the journalists, Ahmed Idris and Ali Mustafa both Nigerian nationals, were being kept in their hotel rooms. Their camera equipment had been confiscated. The Nigerian military has stated that the journalists were operating without "protection,accreditation or due clearance", and confirmed that the two journalists remain officially detained until further notice. The two journalists were detained while reporting on the Nigerian forces fighting armed group Boko Haram as part of Al Jazeera's special coverage on the upcoming elections. Al Jazeera has demanded the release of two of its journalists "without conditions". The network stated that both Idris and Mustafa are officially accredited by the Independent Electoral Commission in Abuja with the clearance to report from anywhere in Nigeria during the entire election period. "We call on the Nigerian authorities to release Ahmed Idris and Ali Mustafa; they have all the relevant paperwork to report on the Nigerian elections and stories related to the election," an Al Jazeera spokesman stated in a statement on Wednesday. "Both men had just finished filming a story on the military with their cooperation. Both men are accredited and respected Nigerian journalists", the statement read.The military statement also stated that both menwere stated to be 'loitering' in various locations, however they were actually detained in their hotel rooms."
