ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Nigerian Guild of Editors have urged the Federal Government and state governors to take immediate steps to protect journalists and tackle insecurity and impunity nationwide.
The organisations also called on the government of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyseom Wike, to prioritise press freedom and address the worsening insecurity and widespread human rights abuses across parts of northern Nigeria.
The appeal was contained in a joint statement released on Sunday in Lagos to commemorate World Press Freedom Day.
It followed a conference and interactive session on “the Role of the Media in Promoting People’s Rights, Accountability, and Access to Justice in the Context of Growing Insecurity in Nigeria,” held on Saturday at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja.
SERAP and NGE stated, “protecting journalists and safeguarding information integrity are central drivers of peace, security, and democratic stability.
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“Any credible peace, recovery, or security strategy in Nigeria must integrate support for free, independent, and pluralistic media alongside humanitarian, institutional, and economic responses.
“Serious concerns about the scale and persistence of killings, abductions, sexual violence, forced displacement, and destruction of property across several parts of northern Nigeria.”
They noted that these trends highlight systemic shortcomings in preventing predictable harm, protecting communities, investigating violations, prosecuting offenders and their sponsors, and ensuring justice and effective remedies for victims.
“Such grave violations constitute serious breaches of Nigeria’s obligations under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.
“The humanitarian consequences remain severe: communities destroyed, livelihoods lost, and victims left without effective remedies. The persistence of impunity continues to erode public trust and weaken democratic governance,” the statement added.
The groups emphasised that authorities at all levels in Nigeria have constitutional and international duties to protect journalists and curb insecurity.
They said the Tinubu administration, state governors, and the FCT minister must “exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate, and remedy human rights violations, including by ensuring justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators and their sponsors.”
They further observed that the UNESCO theme for the 2026 World Press Freedom Day Conference, “Shaping a Future of Peace,” highlights the vital role of a free and independent media in fostering peace and development.
The organisations warned that “information violence often precedes physical violence,” stressing that safeguarding journalists is key to addressing insecurity and strengthening democratic institutions.
They recalled that Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution assigns the media the responsibility of holding the government accountable, while Section 39 guarantees freedom of expression.
SERAP and NGE urged authorities to uphold press freedom, protect civic space, and ensure swift, independent investigations into violations, including prosecuting offenders and compensating victims.
They also advocated greater transparency in security operations, the establishment of public reporting systems to monitor incidents, and cooperation with international bodies, including UN and African Commission rapporteurs, to probe human rights abuses.
Additionally, the groups called on the National Assembly to use its oversight powers to convene a public hearing on insecurity and attacks on journalists.
They appealed to the international community to increase pressure on Nigerian authorities to take decisive measures against insecurity and impunity.
At the event, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) said, “Entire communities are being destroyed in several parts of the north while perpetrators operate with little or no consequences. Impunity is not just a failure of justice it is a driver of further violence.”
According to him, “any government that cannot protect its people or refuses to hold perpetrators accountable undermines its own legitimacy. Journalists are not the enemy of the State they are essential partners in exposing abuse, preventing violence, and strengthening democracy.”
The gathering drew senior media professionals, civil society groups, and other stakeholders, who reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the recommendations.
World Press Freedom Day 2026 is observed on May 3, with a focus on the crucial role of independent journalism, the safety of journalists, and the influence of artificial intelligence on information integrity.