Nigeria Guild of Editors also questioned the situation in Ekiti State where human rights lawyer, Farotimi, was charged to court for allege defamation of character of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Afe Babalola.
10th December 2024 08:17 PM 
In commemoration of the International Human Rights Day, the Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, on Tuesday called on Government at all levels to stop using anti-media laws, such as the cybercrime act and some codes of the National Broadcasting Commission, to target, intimidate and harass journalist.
They therefore called on the Federal Government to look into the unlawful detention of freedom fighter journalists, revealing that one hundred and ten attacks have been confirmed by the guild of editors on journalist in the year 2024.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos organised by SERAP, to create awareness on the clamp down on the harassment of journalists, the General Secretary, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Iyabosa Uwugiaren, said the attacks has created an hostile environment for true and undiluted stories to thrive.
“The Nigeria Guild of Editors is proud to announce collaboration with SERAP, and we would be doing this consistently, because they shear one of our mandate, to defend freedom of expression and association.
“As the international community marks the international Human Rights day today, SERAP and NGE, are calling on government at all levels to stop using depressive and anti-media laws, such as cyber crime act, and some codes of the National Broadcast Commission, to target, intimidate and harass critics and journalist.”
The Guild of Editors therefore called on the Federal Government to facilitate the impartial trying of journalist who have been arrested, including human rights Activist, Dele Farotimi.
In its recommendations to the Federal Government of Nigeria, SERAP therefore urged authorities to protect media freedom by making legal reforms by ensuring media protection and safety, enhancing freedom of information and enforcement of the implementation of rights of journalists as enriched in the 1999 constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria.
“We are concerned about the clamp down on media freedom by authorities at all levels. We notice that the suppression of human rights journalists, ranging from unlawful detention and disappearance of newsmen.”
It therefore urged government at all levels to improve digital media protection and the enforcement of independence of regulatory mechanisms of the National Broadcasting commission.
