SERAP and NGE Urge Tinubu to Protect Journalists

In a joint statement issued on Sunday in Lagos to mark World Press Freedom Day, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) called on President Bola Tinubu and state governors to urgently protect journalists and tackle insecurity in Nigeria. The statement followed a conference held on Saturday at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja, where the role of media in promoting people's rights and access to justice was discussed amidst growing insecurity in the country.

The groups highlighted the alarming patterns of killings, abductions, and human rights violations in northern Nigeria, attributing these issues to systemic failures in protecting communities and ensuring justice for victims. They urged the Nigerian government to fulfill its constitutional and international obligations to safeguard journalists and enhance press freedom, stressing that an independent media is essential for democracy and accountability.

The statement also called for improved transparency in security operations and collaboration with international bodies to address these pressing issues.