General News
CJID, Media Practitioners Demand Investigation into Recent Detention, Attacks on Journalists
By Iyojo Ameh
The Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID), Citizens Gavel, and a coalition of 85 journalists, media practitioners, and civil society organizations have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to initiate thorough investigations into the recent incidents of journalist detentions and attacks, calling for accountability for those responsible.
The call was made in a statement issued by Busola Ajibola, Deputy Director of CJID’s Journalism Program, on Saturday, in honor of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
The coalition stressed the need for the President to influence all branches of government to uphold the rights of journalists, reaffirming their constitutional rights to operate freely.
The statement noted with concern trend in press freedom violations across the country, citing data from CJID’s Press Attack Tracker. “Between May 29, 2023, and June 30, 2024, the Tracker documented 51 verified incidents of press freedom violations in Nigeria. Alarmingly, 37 of these incidents occurred between January 1 and June 30, 2024, indicating a disturbing escalation,” the statement read. Since then, CJID has documented an additional 90 confirmed cases of press attacks between July 1 and October 22, 2024.
“The ongoing wave of press freedom violations, largely attributed to state actors, signals an alarming trend that endangers the safety of journalists and threatens democratic principles of free speech and accountability,” the coalition stated.
In a renewed appeal to the President, the coalition reiterated specific demands, including the enactment of laws to protect press freedom, conducting thorough investigations into cases of journalist detentions and attacks, and ensuring accountability for perpetrators. They also called for a commitment from all government branches to respect press freedom and uphold journalists’ constitutional rights.
The coalition urged engagement with security agencies such as the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Army, and State Security Service (DSS) to respect and uphold press freedom laws and protections for journalists. They emphasized the importance of facilitating constructive dialogue with media professionals and other stakeholders to create a safer environment for journalism in Nigeria. Additionally, they urged that complaints against journalists related to their work should first be directed to the Nigerian Media Complaints Commission (NMCC) before any arrest or prosecution, ensuring a prima facie case is established.
As the calls for action grow louder, the coalition hopes that President Tinubu will address these pressing issues to safeguard press freedom in Nigeria and uphold the country’s democratic values.
