The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria has called on media and relevant stakeholders to work in greater partnership to create a safe and enabling environment for journalists to operate.
IPC made the call on Saturday in a statement ro commemorate 2024 International Day To End Impunity For Crimes Against Journalists.
Melody Akinjiyan, Press Freedom Officer, IPC, signed the statement.
The day is set aside for journalists, other media professionals and freedom of expression groups to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.
The theme for this year : ” Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies.”
IPC expressed regrets that the safety of journalists during crises and emergencies in the country remain unguaranteed as evidenced by attacks on the media and journalists during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests and previous ones such as #EndSars.
The statement said :
“IPC is particularly worried that the perpetrators of the worsening spate of attacks are rarely brought to justice, hence the regime of impunity for crimes against journalists continue to reign while the country also continues to rank high among countries where press freedom and freedom of expression are constantly under threat.
“IPC holds that the outcome of the documentation of attacks on journalists by its Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) hub is disturbing as the database shows that within the past nine (9) months, not less than forty (40) incidents of physical assault, harassment, threat to life, torture, kidnapping, unlawful arrest/detention, loss/damage of valuables and gadgets (camera, phones, midgets, money, etc.) among others and involving over sixty-five (65) journalists and other media professionals were recorded.”
According to IPC, the report revealed that the number of highest cases recorded were in the month of August during the ‘End Bad Governance Protest’ held across the country.
It gave the details of victims : ” Benard Akede, Male, News Central Television, Harassment & barred from conducting live broadcast
Police officers & LCC officials
Lagos State
“Ibrahim Isah, Male ,TVC News, Physical assault by
Hoodlums, Kano State
“Eleven (11) journalists
Not mentioned
Not mentioned
Vehicle vandalism (Channels TV) & attempt to assault journalists on board, Hoodlums
Kano State
“Yakubu Mohammed,Male, Premium Times, Physical assault & cameras of journalists destroyed by Police officers, FCT, Abuja
“Jide Oyekunle, Male, Daily Independent, Unlawful arrest
Police officers, FCT, Abuja
“Mary Adeboye,Female, News Central Television, Physical assault (tear gas), Police officers , FCT, Abuja
“Team of journalists led by Joseph Abasi-Abasi, Male, Nigerian Tribune, Physical assault & vandalism of NUJ vehicle by Hoodlums, Cross-River State
“Jonathan Ugbal, Male,Cross River Watch, Unlawful arrest & detention, Police officers
Cross-River State
“Matthew Ochei,Monday Osayande Lucy, Punch Newspaper, Guardian Newspaper
“Pointer Newspaper, Physical assault & destruction of gadgets and working tools, Anti-protesters
Delta State
“Olukayode Jayeola, Male,
The Punch Newspaper
Unlawful arrest & confiscation of camera and personal belongings
Police officers
FCT, Abuja
“Not mentioned, Not mentioned,
The Punch Newspaper, Premium Times, The Cable, Peoples Gazatte
Gunshots fired at vehicle conveying journalists
Masked security operatives
FCT, Abuja
“Radio Ndarason , Internationale
Unlawful arrest, Security operatives, Borno State and
News Central Television Crew, Physical assault by
Thugs, Lagos State.
The Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade in a statement said the precarious situation is unwelcome and deserving of the attention of media stakeholders.
“We are calling for an end to impunity for crimes against journalists in Nigeria.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to attacks against journalists.
“We attach the highest priority to the safety of journalists and other media actors.
“We oppose any action, legislation, regulation or political pressure that limits freedom of the press.
“Acts of intimidation and violence against journalists in Nigeria have to end for democracy to survive.
“Attacks against media institutions and journalists are attacks against democratic rights including the right of the public to know the truth about the way they are governed,” Arogundade said.
Arogundade then called on the Presidency to mandate security operatives to carry out the necessary investigations on unresolved cases of attacks on journalists while he also urged the Inspector-General of Police to publicly disclose what has so far been done towards unraveling the mystery behind killed journalists in Nigeria. (vitalnewsngr.com)
