Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has voiced strong criticism against the escalating harassment and intimidation of journalists in Nigeria, warning that the frequent abductions, arbitrary arrests, detentions, and other attacks by security and law enforcement agencies are posing a severe threat to media freedom and democracy in the country.
MRA highlighted the relentless nature of these actions, particularly by the Nigeria Police, citing recent cases involving Ms. Ayomide Eweje, Managing Editor of “Alimosho Today,” former reporter Mr. Wisdom Okezie, and the outlet’s publisher, Mr. Oluwamodupe Akinola. The three journalists were summoned by the Nigeria Police to report to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police, Zone 2 Command in Lagos, on Tuesday, 27, August 2024, for an undisclosed investigation.
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In a statement released in Lagos, Ms. Obioma Okonkwo, Head of MRA’s Legal Department, condemned the police’s failure to provide details in their letters of invitation, describing it as “an ambush.” She remarked, “It seems that the Police now consider journalism a crime such that anybody who is unhappy about any report published by the media is able to get the Police to hunt down any journalist involved with uncommon zeal even as real criminals go about their business unchallenged for the most part.”
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Ms. Okonkwo further criticized the apparent use of the police by powerful individuals to silence journalists, adding, “Whenever such complaints are made to the Police over media reporting, no investigation is ever conducted to verify the truth or otherwise of the stories or articles published by journalists that resulted in the complaint made against them.”
Calling on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to address this issue, Ms. Okonkwo urged for measures to curb the misuse of police powers, warning that the continued failure to do so would “create a climate of impunity” and lead to an increase in unjustifiable harassment of journalists.