IPC Raises Concern Over Attacks On 149 Journalists In Two Years

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos has raised the alarm over attacks on 149 journalists and other media professionals between 2020 to 2021 while discharging their official responsibilities. 

A breakdown of the attacks revealed that about 40 incidents were recorded and documented by IPC on 49 journalists in 2021 alone while over 100 journalists and other media professionals had been victims of surveillance, spying, harassment, threats, violence, assaults, battery, unlawful arrests, jailing, robberies, kidnappings, and murder since 2020.

To this end, the IPC has called on the federal government to respect its commitment and uphold the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Peoples and Human Rights.

 The Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade stated this on Tuesday in commemoration of the 2022 World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) with the theme, 'Journalism Under Digital Siege'. 

He said the assaults were carried out by the state governments and their agencies, Department of State Services (DSS), Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Police Officers, State Police Commands, Nigeria Police Intelligence Response Team, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), unknown gunmen, hoodlums, private organisations and among others. 

Arogundade stated that with the prevalence of press freedom infractions in the country, that there is an urgent need for media stakeholders to jointly identify and develop sustainable solutions including raising the standard of safety of journalists and media freedom in Nigeria.

According to him, “The reality is that there's little or no justice or even compensation for the victims, while the perpetrators go scot-free; therefore, we must all work together to fortify the safety of journalists and media professionals."

He said that IPC will launch two documentaries on May 11 in order to promote the conversation and reveal the identity of journalists and other media professionals, who were victims of brutal press freedom violations during the 2020 lockdown and  #ENDSARS protests.

The executive director stated that the documentaries will be followed by a round table discussion on protection for journalists during national crises or emergencies.

He said the panelists and participants will include media practitioners, media organisations, media professional bodies and associations, press freedom organisations, media and digital rights organisations, security bodies, government representatives, lawyers, judiciary representatives, human rights activists and human rights organisations.