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President Bola Tinubu should take urgent and decisive steps to stop the incessant and unwarranted attacks on and harassment of journalists in Nigeria, a coalition of 85 media professionals and Civil Society Organisations have said.
The media professionals and CSOs including the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Citizens’ Gavel, Accountability Lab Nigeria, Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria, Foundation for Investigative journalism, among others, said that 37 incidents of press freedom violation spread across the Nigeria were tracked, verified and documented between January 1 and June 30, 2024.
The activists lamented the recent disturbing rise in incidents involving the unlawful arrest, harassment, intimidation, violence, and detention of journalists who were simply carrying out their professional duties over unfounded allegations, which not only threaten the safety and lives of journalists and media professionals but also undermine the fundamental principles of freedom of expression and the press.
The CSOs and journalists bared their minds in a letter dated July 30 to the President, and copied to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and released to journalists on Tuesday evening.
The organisations maintained that the role of the media in a democracy cannot be overstated as Journalists and media professionals play a crucial role in promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability.
While quoting CJID Press Attack Tracker data between May 29, 2023, and June 30, 2024, they said that 37 incidents of press freedom violation spread across Nigeria 37 were tracked, verified and documented between January 1 and June 30, 2024.
The data, they said, clearly shows that the abusive tactics of security agencies on the media have intensified since Tinubu came into office on May 29 2023.
The letter called on the President to implement laws and other measures directed at strengthening press freedom protection, and ensuring that journalists and media professionals carry out their watchdog activities as guaranteed by the constitution, without any fear of attack and intimidation.
The letter recommended in parts: “Conduct thorough investigations into recent cases of journalists’ detention and into all reported cases of attacks on journalists, and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.
“Engage and pressure all the arms of government to commit to respect press freedom by upholding and protecting the rights of journalists as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
“Engage the security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the State Security Service, also known as the DSS on their roles in protecting press freedom and the importance of properly implementing the laws that relate to press freedom and freedom of expression.
“Engage with media professionals and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate constructive dialogues on the issues of press freedom and journalists’ safety, and to work in partnership with them to create a safer and enabling environment for journalism to strive in Nigeria.
“Direct that complaints against journalists in connection with their work be first reported to and investigated by the Nigeria Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), otherwise known as the National Ombudsman. A prima facie case should be established before the journalist concerned is invited, arrested, or prosecuted.”
“We urge the President to take swift and concrete steps to protect journalists and media professionals and uphold their rights. The safety of journalists is integral to strengthening and advancing our democracy and the protection of human rights, CJID, Citizens’ Gavel, and partners remain committed to advocating for the rights of journalists to promote democratic accountability for inclusive and sustainable development.
“We call on all stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organisations, to join us in this critical advocacy effort to safeguard press freedom in Nigeria.”
Friday Olokor
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