Editor
By Fatima Saka
In honor of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Citizens Gavel, a coalition of journalists, media professionals, civil society groups, and concerned citizens have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to address the growing wave of attacks and harassment faced by journalists in Nigeria.
The call to action follows a press statement from Busola Ajibola, Deputy Director of the CJID Journalism Program, released on Saturday, which highlights recent escalations in violations against press freedom.
In the statement, the coalition stressed that this appeal is crucial to maintaining the integrity of press freedom and supporting democratic accountability in Nigeria.
On November 2, 2024, to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, CJID, Citizens Gavel, and a coalition of 85 journalists, media practitioners, civil society organizations, and concerned citizens issued a second urgent letter to the President’s office, calling for immediate measures to curb persistent attacks and harassment of journalists across the country.
This second appeal follows an earlier letter dated July 29, 2024, which “urged the President to take immediate action to address the incessant and unwarranted arrest, unlawful detention, and various forms of harassment and intimidation of journalists and the press in Nigeria.”
The initial letter also contained recommendations aimed at ensuring journalists’ safety and bolstering protections for press freedom in Nigeria. It reported that between May 29, 2023, and June 30, 2024, CJID’s Press Attack Tracker verified 51 incidents of press freedom violations across Nigeria, with a disturbing 37 incidents occurring within the first half of 2024. Since the first appeal, the Press Attack Tracker recorded over 90 confirmed cases of attacks on journalists from July 1 to October 22, 2024, signifying an escalating trend.
These ongoing press freedom violations largely attributed to state actors represent a grave threat to journalists’ safety and to the democratic principles of free speech and accountability.
In its follow-up appeal, the coalition reiterated its demands, calling on the President to:
1. Enact and strengthen laws to protect press freedom and ensure journalists and media professionals can carry out their watchdog roles without fear of attack or intimidation.
2. Conduct thorough investigations into all recent incidents of journalists’ detention and attacks and hold perpetrators accountable.
3. Encourage all branches of government to respect and uphold press freedom by protecting journalists’ rights as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
4. Work with security agencies, including the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the State Security Service (DSS), to promote press freedom and properly implement laws protecting freedom of expression.
5. Engage with media professionals and stakeholders to foster constructive dialogue on press freedom and journalist safety, creating a safer environment for journalism to flourish in Nigeria.
6. Direct complaints against journalists in connection with their work to the Nigerian Media Complaints Commission (NMCC), also known as the National Ombudsman, for preliminary investigation before any arrest or prosecution.
“As we observe the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we are reminded of the press’s critical role in Nigeria’s democracy,” the statement reads. “We urge the President to take definitive steps to safeguard press freedom and ensure journalists can report freely and without fear.”
CJID, Citizens Gavel, and their partners hope that the President will use this day as an opportunity to affirm Nigeria’s commitment to press freedom and the safety of its journalists.
The coalition remains steadfast in its advocacy for journalists’ rights, promoting democratic accountability for inclusive and sustainable development. They call on all stakeholders—including government officials and civil society organizations—to join this crucial effort to safeguard press freedom in Nigeria.
