The press, which is often referred to as the fourth estate of the realm, plays an active role in the promotion of governance in a democratic society. Journalists in Nigeria have been facing serious attack from the government and the laws enforcement agencies for doing their jobs. This has led to dead, torture and incarceration of the press men in the country.
According to a report published by a non governmental organization, Reporters Without Borders, Nigeria is ranked 115 out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index. The report reference the killing, victimization and detention of journalists including plan to limit the civic space by the Nigerian Government as reason for the ranking.
Last year, about three or more journalists were picked up and subsequently detained for their works in exposing corruption. Some of the journalists are citizen Agba Jalingo, Omoyele Sowore, among others. The report claimed, “Nigeria is now one of West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists, who are often spied on, attacked, arbitrarily arrested or even killed.
“Two journalists have been shot dead while covering Islamic Movement in Nigeria protests – one in July 2019 and the other in January 2020 – without any proper investigation with the aim of identifying those responsible. Journalists are often denied access to information by government officials, police and sometimes the public itself.
“The all-powerful regional governors are often their most determined persecutors and act with complete impunity. The police also detained a journalist for several days in an attempt to identify his sources. Online freedom is restricted by a 2015 cyber-crime law that is widely used to arrest and prosecute journalists and bloggers in an arbitrary manner.”
In the same vain, on the 22nd of April 2020 the Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr David Umahi in a live broadcast ban two state house correspondents from government activities for life. The journalists are Mr. Peter Okutu of Vanguard Newspapers and Mr. Chijioke Agwu of the Sun Newspapers.
Governor Umahi made the pronouncement in a statewide live broadcast on the State’s broadcast stations, he said, he was displeased with the board of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), for failing to discipline their members.
The governor said, “If you think you have the pen, we have the koboko.”
The governor had ordered the arrest of Mr Agwu over a report he did on the Lassa Fever outbreak in the state.
Three days later, Mr Okutu was arrested on the orders of Ohaukwu LGA Chairman, Clement Odah, over a report he wrote on the alleged military invasion of Umuogodoakpu-Ngbo community in the council area. However, both Journalists were later released.
The Press in Nigeria have suffered so much in the hands of the government. This is dated back from the military regime till date under the civilian government. A society without the press is like a dark room without light.
From the forgoing, it is evident that, Press Freedom in Nigeria is a just a myth and not a reality. The government is always creating a hostile atmosphere for those who want to practice true journalism. It is either you do it their own way or you face the consequences of your actions.
Any country that wish to practice true democracy, carry along the media men to facilitate the relationship between the masses and the ruling class. For effective journalism, Nigeria need to give the Press some level of freedom to operate and not being subjected to unnecessary apprehension by the law enforcement agencies.
– Samuel Ugbede Usman
