…SERAP, Amnesty International, Foreign Press Association, Africa, others raise serious concern
…Analysts say Nigeria now joins the ranks of Russia, Belarus and China as leading oppressors of journalists in world, which highlights the extent of challenge facing journalists and media practitioners in Nigeria
MON AUG 26 2024-theGBJournal| Groups monitoring freedom of speech in Nigeria are alarmed at the rate of ongoing crackdown and sudden arrest and disappearance of journalists and social media influencers in Nigeria.
The charges levelled against the journalists often ranges from cybercrime, treason to spreading misinformation and disclosing classified document-a charge a lawmaker attempted to raise a punishing bill in National Assembly recently.
”Security agencies now conveniently snatches and detain journalists in Nigeria, under President Tinubu’s watch” one analysts told theG&BJournal
So far none of those held have been charged to court or convicted for any offence, further exacerbating concerns regarding press freedom in Nigeria.
Analysts say Nigeria now joins the ranks of Russia, Belarus and China as leading oppressors of journalists in world, which highlights the extent of challenge facing journalists and media practitioners in the country.
Human Rights groups estimate that over 20 journalists have been detained since the disappearance of Daniel Ojukwu, a reporter at the Foundation for Investigative Journalism who vanished in Lagos on May 1.
Ojukwu was later found in police custody, accused of violating Nigeria’s cybercrime law. Segun Olatunji, Madu Onuorah are two other journalist known to have been detained so far.
”The manner of their arrest puts all of them at risk of torture and other ill treatment,” Amnesty International (Nigeria) said in a statement recently.
”Escalation of intimidation of journalists and bloggers recently is a frightening sign of what is coming regarding the Nigerian government’s efforts to muzzle dissenting voices in the country,” Amnesty adds.
The disappearance of 99% Oppressed (PIDOM) recently and the arrest of Adejuwon Soyinka, West Africa Editor for Conversation Africa, allegedly by the Department of State Security (DSS), adds to the growing list.
Human rights activists are raising alarm and warning of the trend that has now become increasingly endemic in the country.
The Human Rights Watch, SERAP and Amnesty International have joined other lesser known groups to call for caution and to seek the release of the detained journalists whose whereabouts are largely unknown.
”The Tinubu administration must immediately release journalist Adejuwon Soyinka who was reportedly arrested by the DSS at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport today,” SERAP warned after the journalists was arrested and whisked away on Sunday by operatives from undetermined security agency
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project said the Tinubu administration must end the persecution of journalists simply for doing their job.
According to SERAP, the growing crackdown on journalists and whistleblowers is creating a chilling effect among other journalists and whistleblowers thereby allowing grave and systemic human rights violations to continue with impunity and minimal transparency and accountability.
”The harassment and intimidation of journalists and whistleblowers shows that the Tinubu administration is intolerant of peaceful dissent. This is entirely incompatible with democratic principles and the rule of law.
Nigeria’s international partners and UN human rights mechanisms should publicly denounce the blatant assault on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in the country.”
Foreign Press Association, Africa (FPAA), which condemned the arrest of Soyinka who is a Board member of the Association, said in a statement that it ”strongly repudiates this flagrant violation of press freedom and the rights of journalists.”
FPAA called on Nigerian government to immediately cease ”this destructive path and respect the non-exhaustive lists of texts, declarations, decisions, resolutions and conventions related to the safety of journalists.”
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