The Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has denounced the growing harassment and intimidation of journalists across Nigeria, expressing concern that this increasing climate of impunity threatens press freedom and democracy under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
HURIWA’s alarm follows the recent summoning of three journalists from Alimosho Today, a community news platform in Lagos, by the Assistant Inspector General of Police at the Zone 2 Command.
Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, disclosed yesterday that the journalists—Wisdom Okezie, a former reporter; Ayomide Eweje, the managing editor; and Oluwamodupe Akinola, the publisher—were summoned to the Zone 2 Command office on August 27.
“The summons were issued through letters dated August 22, 2024, signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Martin Nwogoh on behalf of the AIG. The letters did not reveal the complainant’s identity or specify the nature of the inquiry, raising serious concerns about the intentions behind the questioning,” Onwubiko stated.
He warned that such actions promote a “climate of impunity,” where journalists are increasingly targeted simply for doing their jobs.
Onwubiko accused the police of being exploited by public officials and influential figures to stifle the press and criticized the increasing use of security agencies to arrest, detain, or charge journalists under the guise of complaints about media reports without verifying the accuracy of the content.
He also highlighted several disturbing cases of journalists being harassed, detained, and intimidated on dubious grounds, particularly under the Cybercrimes Act.
Among the journalists mentioned were Daniel Ojukwu from the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), who was abducted by the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police and held 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 alleging a $30 billion financial scandal involving a high-ranking government official.
Other cases included Kasarachi Aniagolu of The Whistler, who was arrested and assaulted while covering an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raid in Abuja; Achadu Gabriel of Daybreak Newspaper, who was detained and charged with defamation and incitement; and Godwin Tsa of The Sun Newspaper, who was assaulted and detained while reporting on a peaceful protest in Abuja.
Additionally, online publisher Precious Eze was arrested at his Lagos residence, with a special police task force seizing his devices and leaving him incommunicado.
The crackdown extended to the arrest of Informant247 journalists Salihu Ayatullahi and Adisa-Jaji Azeez by the Kwara State Police following their reports linking a state official to financial fraud.
Further incidents involved Saint Mienpamo of NAIJA Live TV, who was arrested over a report on a man allegedly killed by security guards, and Just Events Online publisher Abdulrasaq Babatunde, along with Satcom Media’s Lukman Bolakale, who were detained for 10 days after being summoned by a police unit in Kwara State.
