At an event commemorating World Press Freedom Day 2024, held at the International Press Centre (IPC) in Lagos yesterday, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, the Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA), expressed grave concern over the persistent assaults on journalists and freedom of expression in Nigeria.
Addressing participants, Ojo highlighted, “The culture of impunity is what we really need to combat,” stressing the urgent need to address the prevailing threats to press freedom.
Ojo, while outlining MRA’s extensive efforts in documenting attacks on journalists and media freedom, lamented the growing trend of violence against journalists during President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office.
He emphasised that “These attacks, range from arbitrary detentions to threats and physical violence, signify a disturbing pattern of aggression against journalists.”
Providing statistical insights, Ojo revealed, “Between May 2023 and April 2024, MRA recorded at least 45 attacks on journalists and media houses,” with the majority of victims being male journalists.
He also underscored the alarming involvement of law enforcement agencies in perpetrating these attacks.
Echoing Ojo’s sentiments, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), emphasised the theme for this year’s celebration: “A press for the planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis.”
Arogundade underscored the significant challenges journalists encounter in fulfilling their duties, calling for concerted efforts to establish a national media mechanism in Nigeria.
Furthermore, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, representing the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), reiterated the critical importance of safeguarding journalists’ safety. He revealed that attacks on journalists, ranging from arrests to assassinations, were disturbingly frequent, with state actors accounting for a majority of the assaults.
Also at the event, journalists shared experiences on attacks suffered while carrying out their lawful duties.
Mr. Clinton Umeh of Journalists 101, Ms. Khadija Yahaya of Arewa Radio, Ms. Charity Uwakwe of Famous Reporters, Mr. Eniola Daniel of The Guardian newspaper, and Mr. Benedict Uwalaka of Daily Trust newspaper, shared their testimonies highlighting the challenges faced by journalists and the impact of attacks on their well-being and professional endeavors.
Subsequently, Dr. (Mrs.) Uzochukwu Israel, a Clinical Psychologist from the University of Lagos, made a presentation on the “Possible Psychosocial Effects of Attacks on Journalists and their Management.”
Dr. Israel emphasised the potential mental and physical health implications of trauma experienced by journalists, providing strategies for self-management and stressing the importance of seeking professional help when necessary.
The event, jointly organised by MRA, IPC, and Global Rights, underscored the urgent need for collective action to ensure the safety and freedom of the press in Nigeria.
Report by Dayo Emmanuel