As Nigeria joins the global community to raise concerns about press freedom violations on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day 2022, The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria is calling on the Nigerian government to respect its commitment and uphold the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Peoples and Human Rights.
A statement signed by the Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, through its Communications Officer Olutoyin Ayoade, laments the increased incidents of press freedom attacks on journalists in the year 2020 – 2021, thus calling on the urgency for media stakeholders to jointly identify and develop sustainable solutions including raising the standard of safety of journalists and media freedom in Nigeria.
“It is worrisome that IPC has monitored and documented not less than 40 incidents of press freedom attacks on 49 journalists in the year 2021 alone, while since 2020 the organization has identified over 100 journalists and other media professionals who have been victims of surveillance, spying, harassment, threats, violence, assaults, battery, unlawful arrests, jailing, robberies, kidnappings, and suspected murder.
IPC further notes that these acts were committed by State Governments and their agencies, Department of State Services (DSS), Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Police Officers, State Police Commands, Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Unknown gunmen, Hoodlums, Private Organisations, etc.
The reality is there is little or no justice or even compensation for the victims, while the perpetrators go scot-free, we must therefore all work together to fortify the safety of journalists and media professionals.”
Mr. Arogundade further added that in order to promote the conversation, “IPC will on May 11 launch two documentaries which will highlight IPC’s interviews with journalists and other media professionals who were victims of brutal press freedom violations during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown and the #ENDSARS protests”.
According to him the public presentation of the documentaries will be followed by a round table discussion on protection for journalists during national crises or emergencies. Panelists and participants will include media practitioners, media organizations, media professional bodies and associations, press freedom organizations, media, and digital rights organizations, security bodies, government representatives, lawyers, judiciary representatives, human rights activists, and human rights organizations.”
The International Press Freedom day with its theme Journalism Under Digital Siege is celebrated every 3rd of May to reflect on issues of professional ethics as well as to support journalists and other media professionals, who are often the targets of attacks on press freedom.
