From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned increasing harassment and intimidation of journalists across Nigeria, warning that this rising climate of impunity poses a grave threat to press freedom and democracy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
HURIWA’s concerns stemmed from the recent summoning of three journalists from Alimosho Today, a community news outlet in Lagos, by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Command.
HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, on Tuesday revealed that the journalists—Wisdom Okezie, a former reporter; Ayomide Eweje, the managing editor; and Oluwamodupe Akinola, the publisher—were summoned to appear at the Zone 2 Command office on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.
“The summonses were reportedly issued through letters dated August 22, 2024, signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Martin Nwogoh on behalf of the AIG. Notably, the letters did not disclose the identity of the complainant or the nature of the inquiry, raising serious concerns about the intentions behind the questioning,” he said.
He warned that such actions foster a “climate of impunity” where journalists are increasingly targeted for fulfilling their duties.
Onwubiko accused the police of being used as a tool by public officials and powerful individuals to silence the press and condemned the growing trend of security agencies using complaints about media reports as a pretext to arrest, detain, or charge journalists without verifying the accuracy of their stories.
Also, he highlighted a series of alarming incidents where journalists have been harassed, detained, and intimidated under dubious charges, particularly under the Cybercrimes Act.
“Among the journalists targeted is Daniel Ojukwu of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), who was abducted by the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police and detained without communication for three days before being transferred to Abuja.
“Similarly, Segun Olatunji, editor of FirstNews, was arrested by heavily armed military personnel and detained in an underground cell for 14 days over a report implicating a top government official in a $30 billion financial scandal.
“Other cases include Kasarachi Aniagolu of The Whistler, who was arrested and physically assaulted while covering an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raid in Abuja; Achadu Gabriel of Daybreak Newspaper, who was detained and arraigned on charges of defamation and incitement; and Godwin Tsa of The Sun Newspaper, who was assaulted and detained while covering a peaceful protest in Abuja.
“Additionally, online publisher Precious Eze was arrested at his Lagos residence, where a special police task force seized his gadgets and left him incommunicado.
“The pattern of repression continued with the arrest of Informant247 journalists Salihu Ayatullahi and Adisa-Jaji Azeez by the Kwara State Police after they published reports linking a state official to financial fraud.
“Furthermore, Saint Mienpamo of NAIJA Live TV was arrested over a report on a man allegedly killed by security guards, while Just Events Online publisher Abdulrasaq Babatunde and Satcom Media’s Lukman Bolakale were detained for 10 days after being summoned by a police unit in Kwara State,” he said.