In a bold move to safeguard its journalistic integrity and protect its journalists, WikkiTimes, has officially joined the Safe Box Network, an innovation of Forbidden Stories supporting journalist facing threats and attacks.
WikkiTimes, an investigative and data journalism outlet, that focuses on northern Nigeria has recorded a number of threats and attacks on its journalists including persecution of its publisher, Haruna Mohammed.
The Safe Box Network is a strategic media tool that supports journalists and news media to deal with threats and attacks against journalists.
The Network also supports journalists to continue their reportage irrespective of the threat or intimidation. It also takes over the reporting in the event the reporter or medium cannot continue with their reporting due to safety reasons or death.
The Paris-based Forbidden Stories, a global network of journalists that strives to protect journalists, has said the network has members from across Africa, Europe, North America and Asia.
WikkiTimes publisher had in 2023 joined the network. The newsroom has now officially been admitted into the global platform.
“Joining the Safe Box Network is another big milestone for us at WikkiTimes. It demonstrates that globally recognised journalism organizations are endorsing our fearless reporting and they are ever willing to come to our aid when the need arises”, WikkiTimes editor Aminu Adamu has said.
“We are excited joining the network as a newsroom. It will help us secure our sensitive information, which invariably helps our drive to continue with our fearless reporting”, said Adamu.
“The Rwanda classified is a good example of how Forbidden Stories helps news outlets such as WikkiTimes. I can tell our readers that we are more than ever before, fired up to continue our work professionally and ethically, giving fair hearing to all sides; but we will not be deterred by these attacks because we have partners that are on the sideline itching to step in where necessary”, Adamu added.
The Safe Box Network acts as a strong shield against enduring threats, ensuring that the stories journalists fight to tell do not vanish with them.
Trolling, Cyberattacks, Threats… The Cost of Our Journalism at WikkiTimes
By joining the Safe Box Network, WikkiTimes “reinforces its commitment to investigative journalism and holding power to account”, Adamu said.
WikkiTimes journalists have been subjected to a range of harassment, including threats to their safety and lives. The challenging environment in Bauchi State, especially under Governor Bala Mohammed, has heightened the risks for the outlet and its reporters.
These dangers encompass not only online threats but also physical intimidation and attacks, creating a hazardous atmosphere for the newsroom and its journalists.
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) have been a tactic employed against WikkiTimes to stifle its investigative journalism with nine ongoing lawsuits against the outlet instituted within a span of two years.
These legal battles aimed at depleting WikkiTimes’ financial resources is a tactic used by politicians to silence relatively small and young news organizations in sustaining their operations and defending journalistic principles.
72 Hours After Detention, WikkiTimes Publisher Remanded in Prison
WikkiTimes has been targeted by cyberattacks and online harassment. Its journalists have been subjected to unlawful detentions and physical assaults. For example, in June 2022, the outlet’s Publisher Haruna Mohammed and reporter Kamal Idris Ibrahim were unlawfully detained and mistreated at the Bauchi Police Headquarters after reporting on political threats.
They faced unfounded criminal charges and endured humiliating treatment during their confinement. In February 2023, Haruna Mohammed was arrested and held for interviewing protesting women on election day.
The relentless assaults have inflicted a considerable toll on the psychological and financial well-being of WikkiTimes staff. Frequent relocations due to threats, legal battles, and the perpetual fear of attacks create a stressful and unstable work environment for the outlet.
Despite these repeated targeting and harassment of its journalists, WikkiTimes editor Aminu Adamu says the the outlet is “undeterred and remains committed to providing fearless and deep coverage of Northern Nigeria.”
“We know that when our aggressors succeed in silencing us, Forbidden Stories and its global network of media partners can carry forward these investigations and disseminate them worldwide”, Adamu added.
Democracy Day: Tinubu Ignores Security in Speech as Nigerians, Police Killed Days Earlier