THE Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Citizens Gavel, and a coalition of 85 journalists, media practitioners, civil society organisations, and concerned Nigerian citizens have urged President Bola Tinubu to stop escalating attacks against journalists.
The groups issued a second urgent appeal calling for immediate action to end the persistent attacks and harassment of journalists and the media across the country.
The appeal followed the first letter dated July 29, 2024, which “urged the President to take immediate action to address the incessant and unwarranted arrest, unlawful detention and several other forms of harassment and intimidation meted out on journalists and the press in Nigeria”.
The letter further included recommendations that could help ensure the safety of journalists and the protection of press freedom in Nigeria.
In the initial letter the group said it highlighted that between May 29, 2023, and June 30, 2024, the CJID’s Press Attack Tracker documented 51 verified incidents of press freedom violations across Nigeria and 37 of these incidents occurred between January 1 and June 30, 2024, indicating a distressing escalation.
“Since the first letter was sent, the CJID’s Press Attack Tracker has documented not less than 90 confirmed cases of press attacks between July 1, and October 22, 2024,” they stated.
It added that the ongoing wave of press freedom violations, largely attributed to state actors, signals an alarming trend that endangers the safety of journalists and threatens the democratic principles of free speech and accountability.
Furthermore, the coalition stated that in its follow-up appeal to the President, the coalition restated their specific demands, calling on the President to take immediate action to implement laws and other measures directed at strengthening press freedom protection and ensuring that journalists and media professionals carry out their watchdog duties as guaranteed by the constitution, without fear of attack and intimidation.
It also asked to Conduct thorough investigations into recent cases of journalists’ detention and all reported cases of attacks on journalists, and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable.
“Engage and pressure all the arms of government to commit to respecting 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.” The statement read.
The coalition further urged media professionals and stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions on press freedom and the safety of journalists, to foster a more secure and supportive environment for journalism in Nigeria.
They called on the President to direct that any complaints against journalists be initially reviewed by the Nigerian Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), also known as the National Ombudsman and that a preliminary case be established before any journalist is summoned, detained, or prosecuted.
In observance of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the coalition emphasized the critical role of the press in Nigeria’s democratic framework and encouraged the President to take clear actions to protect press freedom and ensure journalists can report without fear while expressing hope that the President would seize this opportunity to affirm Nigeria’s commitment to journalist safety and press freedom.
Fatimah Quadri is a Journalist and a Fact-checker at The ICIR. She has written news articles, fact-checks, explainers, and media literacy in an effort to combat information disorder.
She can be reached at sunmibola_q on X or fquadri@icirnigeria.org