MRA condemns attack on journalists heading for AFCON match, calls for investigation

Executive Director Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Edetaen Ojo, has expressed serious concern over recent attack on journalists heading to cover the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.

Recall a journalist was reportedly killed, and several others abducted while travelling from Lagos to Uyo to cover the highly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Libya’s Mediterranean Knights.

Ojo stated, “we are horrified by the brutal attack on the group of journalists traveling from Lagos to Uyo to cover the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Libya resulting in the abduction of 11 journalists and reported killing of one of them. While the incident underscores the state of insecurity in the country, it also strikes at the heart of media freedom and the right of journalists to report the news without being subjected to violence and without fear or intimidation.”

Given the critical role journalists play in any democratic society, Ojo insisted any attack on journalists is an attack on democracy itself. To him, “we strongly condemn this senseless act of violence against media professionals. We commend the Anambra State Police command for their reported swift action in securing the release of six of the journalists. But we are seriously concerned that some of the journalists are still being held. We therefore call on the government and its law enforcement and security agencies to take further action to secure the release of the journalists who are still being held captive as quickly as possible. Our thoughts are with the family of the journalist who was killed and others affected by the attack. We call on the government to make a commitment to defend media freedom and to create a safe and conducive environment for journalism practice in Nigeria.”

Citing Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which states the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, he disclosed various human rights instruments also make it clearly that the state has an obligation to ensure safety of journalists, to prevent attacks on them, to investigate any attack, and ensure that perpetrators of such attacks are prosecuted and punished.

This position of the law, he explained, has been upheld by courts around the world, most recently in Nigeria by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja in The Incorporated Trustees of Media Rights Agenda v. Attorney-General of the Federation, in a judgment delivered on February 16, 2024 in which he noted, among other things, that given the special role that journalists play in the society, they ought to be protected and not put at risk. In the light of these, it is clear that the government is under an obligation to investigate this latest attack on journalists, identify the perpetrators of the attack, and prosecute all those responsible or involved.

Saying the media must be able to operate in an environment that is free from violence, fear, or intimidation, he argued it is the responsibility of the government under the constitution, regional and international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a state party to create and ensure that such an environment emerges.

He suggested, “the first step to achieving this goal is to ensure that there is no more impunity for attacks against journalists. The government must make clear in words and by action that anyone who attacks journalists would no longer get away with it. If it begins to do this consistently, then it will send a strong message to potential perpetrators of such attacks that they will be caught and punished. This will in turn discourage further attacks against journalists.”

In addition, Ojo advised government to stop taking constitutional obligations lightly, particularly, its primary duty to ensure the safety and welfare of all citizens.

Besides making deliberate effort to ensure the safety of journalists, he further advised government to diligently improve the security situation in the country, which would obviously also benefit journalists and lead to a reduction or cessation of such attacks.

To this end, he added, “we, therefore, urge government and law enforcement agencies to fulfill this obligation by ensuring that the perpetrators of this attack and others whose actions pose a threat to media freedom are held accountable.”