Journalists Must Be Viewed as Allies, Police Urged Ahead of Elections - IPI Nigeria President

Musikilu Mojeed, the President of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, has issued an appeal for journalists to be regarded as allies and to be safeguarded, particularly as the nation approaches an election period. He conveyed this message during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday.

"We are sending an early warning advice to Tunji Disu. Especially as we go toward election, because we’ve observed that the rate of attacks on journalists usually go up during election period when journalists are covering the elections. And so it is important that they see journalists as allies. We are all in the business of developing our country from different directions", he stated.

Mojeed also pointed out that in previous years, journalists have faced harassment and unlawful detention while undertaking their professional duties during electoral processes.

"The media is a critical institution, especially for a democratic setting like ours. And the experience of the last few years are really disheartening, where journalists were harassed, you know, unlawfully detained, and in some cases assaulted, shot at while doing their legitimate duties.

"Journalism is not a crime. And journalists are not the enemy. They are not the enemy and they are not criminals. So why should you shoot at journalists? Why should you abduct a journalist from Abuja and take him to Bayelsa for harassment, for detention, for assault? Why should they continue to use the cybercrime law against journalists for doing their legitimate constitutional duties?", he questioned.

He further disclosed that the International Press Institute of Nigeria had listed the immediate past Inspector General of Police in the "IPI Book of Infamy" due to assaults against journalists.

"And that was why we placed the immediate past Inspector General of Police on IPI Book of Infamy. He was placed on our Book of Infamy. Unfortunately for him, he was unable to resolve that problem until he left office, and so his name will probably remain in that book", he added.

Addressing the current Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, Mojeed outlined specific expectations:

"Let me say clearly what we really want from the current IG: End all forms of harassment, intimidation, unlawful detention of journalists. Review and withdraw all pending cases that target journalists for carrying out legitimate professional duties. Institute a comprehensive reorientation program for police personnel."