Filmmaker Andrew Berends

Documentarian Andy Berends and his translator, Samuel George, are still in the custody of Nigeria’s State Security Services after being arrested Sunday afternoon. After 36 hours of questioning with no food and little water, he was provisionally released overnight and required to return in the morning. He’s been accused of (but not formally charged with) espionage; a conviction could mean death.

Andy was in the country — legally, it should be noted — filming “Delta Boys,” a documentary about the local conflict over oil in the Niger River Delta. This is the fourth time journalists and media workers have been arrested on baseless charges in the Delta since 2005, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Earlier in the year, the Nigerian military held the crew of “Sweet Crude” for six days and a CNN journalist was questioned for five days in May.

UPDATE: Nigerian state television reporter Felix Opute and at least 20 others have been detained today while covering a Niger Delta community meeting.

The Nigerian government is increasingly sensitive to coverage of the Delta region. Their military has been battling well-armed and well-organized separatists in the strategic oil-producing region for years.

takepart and pressure your representatives to help free Andy and Samuel.