Reporters without Borders (RSF) has reported that Nigeria is one of Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists.
In its 2023 Press Freedom Index, the country ranked 123 out of 180 as journalists are reported to be often monitored, attacked and arbitrarily arrested.
A journalist, the publisher of WikkiTimes, Haruna Muhammed, was arrested while he was covering the 2023 general election in Duguri, Bauchi State. Two other journalists with ‘TheNewsGuru’, Ediri Oyibo and Paul Utebor, were also arrested and subsequently detained by the police in Abuja at the time.
According to a 2022 report by International Press Institute (IPI), Jeremiah Omoniyi, a student journalist working with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) was arrested in June and detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) while covering the governorship election in Ekiti State.
Also in June, Adeola Ogunrinde and Omatseye Atsenuwa, journalists with Smooth 98.1 FM, and Adedoja Salam of TVC were attacked by political hoodlums while on their way from covering a political event.
Publisher of Cross River Watch, Agba Jalingo, was arrested on 22 August, 2019, by Cross River State government for asking Governor Ben Ayade about the 500 million naira meant for the Cross River Micro Finance Bank.
Those are a few examples of journalists harassed and their rights abused while carrying out their duties.
Data from Dataphyte shows that there have been 179 cases of violence resulting in 78 fatalities against journalists and media workers between 1997 and 2020.
Although Section 22 of Nigeria’s constitution protects freedom of expression and opinion, there are many laws that make it possible to obstruct the work of journalists in the country.
In other African countries, as of 2022, Eritrea and Egypt had the lowest numbers with regard to press freedom index, recording 19.62 and 30.23 points respectively.
As the world marks the 2023 World Press Freedom Day, the authorities in Nigeria and other African countries must be reminded that a free and independent media that can keep citizens informed and hold leaders accountable is essential for a strong and sustainable democracy.
Development Diaries, therefore, calls on the incoming government of Nigeria to make press freedom a real priority and end the violence against the media that has grown steadily in the past decade.
Photo source: The Guardian
