As the world commemorates World Press Freedom Day, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and the Nigerian Guild of Editors have issued a strong warning to the administration of Bola Tinubu, urging immediate and decisive action to safeguard press freedom and tackle worsening insecurity across northern Nigeria.
The call, which was shared on SERAP’s official Facebook page on Sunday, followed a high-level conference and interactive session held in Ikeja, Lagos, where stakeholders gathered to examine the role of the media in promoting accountability, justice, and citizens’ rights amid rising violence.
The event, hosted at the Radisson Blu Hotel, was jointly organised by SERAP and NGE to mark the global observance.
In a joint statement released after the session, both organisations stressed that protecting journalists and preserving the integrity of information are not optional, but essential pillars for national stability, peace, and democratic governance.
They argued that any meaningful response to Nigeria’s security crisis must go beyond military measures, insisting that a free, independent, and pluralistic media must be central to any sustainable peace and recovery strategy.
Raising alarm over the deteriorating situation in states such as Benue State, Borno State, Kwara State, Plateau State, and Sokoto State, the groups highlighted the growing toll of violence, including killings, abductions, sexual assaults, and mass displacement.
According to the statement, thousands of Nigerians have reportedly lost their lives, while millions have been forced from their homes, with rural communities repeatedly attacked and vulnerable groups—particularly women and children—bearing the heaviest burden.
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SERAP and NGE described the situation as a reflection of “systemic failures” by authorities to prevent predictable attacks, protect citizens, and hold perpetrators accountable. They warned that the continued cycle of impunity is eroding public trust and weakening democratic institutions.
The groups further noted that these violations contravene Nigeria’s obligations under domestic and international legal frameworks, including the Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
They emphasised that the humanitarian fallout remains devastating, with communities destroyed, livelihoods wiped out, and victims left without justice or adequate support.
Calling for urgent intervention, the organisations urged federal and state authorities to fulfil their constitutional responsibilities by ensuring the safety of journalists, investigating abuses, prosecuting offenders, and delivering justice to victims.
They concluded that without accountability and a strong commitment to press freedom, efforts to restore peace and stability across the country would remain fragile and ineffective.
