Abduction Of Journalist: Right Time For The Media To Backlist Nigeria Police, By Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed

The media is often referred to as the “fourth estate” of the realm due to its role in providing citizens with information to hold the government accountable and to offer solutions to societal problems.

In Nigeria, the media has been relentlessly attacked by the Nigerian government and its security agencies, who are uncomfortable with the media’s reports exposing corruption and holding authorities accountable for their atrocities.

On May 3rd, designated as a global awareness day for World Press Freedom, the Nigerian government, known for its disregard for press freedom, abducted journalist Ojukwu Justin Daniel, a reporter from the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), in a Gestapo-like manner and whisked him away on the orders of Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

The Nigerian police, whose sole responsibility is to enforce the law, often surprise us by being used as tools to oppress people instead of protecting them. They choose to become more violent and aggressive, abducting journalists in the wee hours without warrants of arrest or sending invitations for questioning.

Recalled how Mr. Segun Olatunji, the Editor of FirstNews and former Kaduna Bureau Chief of The PUNCH, was abducted from his home in the Iyana Odo area of Abule Egba, Lagos State, by a group of armed soldiers.

Mr. Olatunji was subjected to humiliation in his line of duty. He was blindfolded, handcuffed, kept incommunicado, and thrown into an underground cell for over a week for exposing corruption.

Following the recent attacks on Ojukwu Justin Daniel by security agencies, there is a call for the Nigerian media to take a stand by blacklisting these agencies and ceasing to report on any activities associated with them.

The action will send a strong message against such unacceptable behavior and protect the integrity and safety of journalists in the country.

It is crystal clear that President Bola Tinubu has no regard for press freedom. Under his watch, within a year, over 20 journalists have been attacked and jailed while discharging their duties. Therefore, all journalists assigned to cover crime by media houses should withdraw their reporters.

As a matter of urgency, President Tinubu should sack the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for violating the rights of journalists. Meanwhile, Egbetokun is dissatisfied with media reports on the atrocities committed by powerful people and how they are being exposed by journalists.

With the methods and manners the Nigerian police employ in abducting journalists nowadays, it is evident that our democracy is sitting on the keg of a gun powder, as journalism stands as one of the pillars that fortify democracy.

Journalists are now the focus target of security agencies, instead of pursuing bandits and terrorists who attack and kidnap people during daylight. They have abandoned their primary assignment to go after unarmed journalists who are genuinely discharging their duty.

Journalism is an essential cornerstone of freedom, serving as a watchdog to defend the interests of the public against oppression. All media in Nigeria should blacklist the Nigeria Police and refrain from reporting any of their activities until they publicly apologize and acknowledge their mistakes.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other security agencies should order the immediate release of Daniel Ojukwu and other journalists who have been incarcerated and incommunicado, or else they will be branded as enemies of the media and journalists.