persistent assaults on journalists could undermine democracy — MRA
THE Media Rights Agenda, MRA, has condemned the continuous harassment and intimidation of journalists in Nigeria by security and law enforcement agencies.
The organisation expressed concern over recent cases of abductions, arbitrary arrests, detention and other attacks on media professionals, stating that these incidents pose a serious threat to media freedom and democracy in the country.
According to Head of MRA’s Legal Department, Ms. Obioma Okonkwo: “The harassment and intimidation of journalists by the Police and other security agencies have reached alarming levels and are posing a grave danger to media freedom and democracy in Nigeria.”
MRA cited the recent cases of Ms. Ayomide Eweje, Managing Editor of Alimosho Today; Mr. Wisdom Okezie, a former reporter with the same organisation, and Mr. Oluwamodupe Akinola, the Publisher, who have been summoned to report to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Command in Onikan, Lagos.
"They have been called to “facilitate” an undisclosed investigation, as stated in separate letters dated August 22, 2024, by Mr. Martin Nwogoh, a Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Ms. Okonkwo expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the police’s letters of invitation, calling it an “ambush” and identifying a pattern in numerous such invitations by the Police designed to lure journalists to the police station only to detain them.
“The Police seem to have become a weapon for public officials and other influential individuals seeking to silence and punish journalists who publish negative reports about them,” she added.
Ms. Okonkwo also called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to take action to stem the abuse of Police powers.
She said: “The consistent failure to check the practice in the past has created a climate of impunity, emboldening many and resulting in an upsurge of unjustifiable harassment of journalists.”
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