Free speech for Nigeria don enter serious wahala again as police for Enugu invite one journalist, Raphael Ede, wey dey work with The PUNCH, over one story wey e never even publish.
According to reports, na Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annexe for Enugu invite am through WhatsApp, say dem dey investigate matter wey involve conspiracy, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and conduct wey fit cause wahala for public peace. Dem claim say Ede name dey inside di case.
But human rights groups don vex. Two organisations — Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network and Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre — don write petition to police headquarters for Abuja, say make dem investigate di matter well. Dem talk say na attempt to intimidate journalists and silence di press.
This one no be di first time. For 2024, police for Abuja invite Premium Times reporter Emmanuel Agbo over another unpublished story about land wahala.
According to International Press Centre, between 2016 and 2020, Nigeria record over 150 attacks on journalists. For 2024 alone, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development track 110 confirmed attacks, many of dem under di excuse of enforcing Cybersecurity Act.
Media groups like Nigerian Guild of Editors don warn say di Cybersecurity Act no suppose be tool to harass journalists. Dem say di law na to fight cybercrime, no be to silence press wey dey do dem work.
Some journalists wey don suffer for hand of security people include:
- Madu Onuorah (Globalupfront Newspapers)
- Segun Olatunji (FirstNews Online)
- Daniel Ojukwu (Foundation for Investigative Journalism)
Di Nigerian Constitution clear for Section 22 and Section 39(1) say press get right to hold government accountable and express freely. Even Article 19 of UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights support this freedom.
People dey call on National Assembly make dem review di Cybersecurity Act and other laws wey dem dey use suppress press freedom. Dem say security agencies no suppose dey act like political tools.
As di matter dey hot, Nigerians and civil society groups dey urged to stand gidigba to protect democracy and freedom of speech.
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