Nigeria, June 11 -- Right activist and newspaper publisher, Agba Jalingo, has been released by the police in Cross River State, Nigeria's South-south.

Mr Jalingo, the publisher of Cross River Watch, an online newspaper, was arrested earlier on Friday at the police headquarters, Calabar, where he had gone to honour an invitation from the Commissioner of Police in the state, Kayode Sikiru.

The police said they had a petition which accused Mr Jalingo of being an arms dealer.

Mr Jalingo's lawyer, James Ibor, who confirmed his release, said the accusation was fake and that the petition was intended to prevent his client from mobilising residents for the nationwide June 12 protest in Cross River.

"He was released about 30 minutes ago, he is...