Media Right Agenda (MRA) says killers of at least 19 Nigerian journalists [over the years] still walk free without diligent punishment.
The rights group, however, urged President Bola Tinubu to act differently from his predecessors to ensure the safety of journalists and end impunity for crimes against media professionals in Nigeria.
MRA’s Executive Director, Edetan Ojo disclosed this Thursday in a statement issued by the group’s communications officer, Idowu Adewale to commemorate 2023 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
‘They Got Me’ — Dele Giwa’s Last Words after Receiving Letter Bomb
Ojo noted that it is now 10 years since the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed November 2 of every year as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against journalists but Nigeria is yet to make any concrete attempt toward protecting journalists.
The statement read: “On the occasion of this year’s International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we remain extremely concerned that in spite of numerous and frequently recurring cases of attacks against journalists in Nigeria, with at least 19 journalists killed over the years, no one has ever been charged with any crime for such attacks or punished for such offences, with the result that Nigeria appears to be suggesting that attacking or killing journalists is acceptable and will attract no consequences.”
MRA noted that the UN General Assembly had called upon states to ensure a safer and enabling environment for journalists and prompt investigation and prosecution for any crime against them.
Buhari Claimed He’d Protected Journalists’ Rights. He Lied — Over 30 Victimised Under Him
It explained that signatories are enjoined “to do their utmost to prevent violence against journalists and media workers, to ensure accountability through the conduct of impartial, speedy and effective investigations into all alleged violence against journalists and media workers falling within their jurisdiction and to bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice and ensure that victims have access to appropriate remedies.”
MRA further regretted that over the last 10 years, Nigeria had not taken any discernible measure towards fulfilling any single one of these requirements, “even as attacks against journalists and other media workers have continued unabated and with impunity, including the repeated occurrence of some of the specific acts condemned by the resolution, such as torture, extrajudicial killings, physical violence against journalists, arbitrary detention, intimidation and harassment.
It urged the president as a media proprietor to make a clear commitment to ensure the safety of journalists in Nigeria and bring an end to impunity for crimes against journalists by ensuring that government officials and non-state actors who attack journalists are appropriately punished in accordance with the Law.
MRA further appealed to President Tinubu to direct the relevant agencies to take necessary steps and work with other media stakeholders, including media professional bodies and civil society organizations, to establish a national mechanism for ensuring the safety of journalists and ending impunity for crimes against journalists in the country.
