The recent detention of Segun Olatunji, an editor at FirstNews, by operatives from the Nigerian military’s Defence Intelligence Agency marks another concerning incident in the ongoing assault on press freedom in Nigeria.
The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network dedicated to press freedom and independent journalism, has strongly criticized this arbitrary detention, labeling it a serious infringement on human rights and a breach of the nation’s legal principles.
According to the IPI, “The rule of law stipulates that anyone accused should be promptly allowed to present a defense in court,” echoing the requirements of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. This constitution prohibits holding any individual or resident for more than 48 hours without a legitimate court order.
The Incident
On March 10, Segun Olatunji was forcibly taken from his residence in the Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos State by a group of about ten soldiers. His family was left in the dark about his location until the IPI announced that the Defence Intelligence Agency was behind Olatunji’s capture. Astonishingly, shortly after this revelation, the Nigerian military confirmed they were holding the journalist.
After initially denying involvement, military officials, as relayed by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, eventually acknowledged seizing the editor. Olatunji was released after 13 days in detention, highlighting a disturbing pattern of behavior by the Nigerian armed forces.
Data from Press Tracker indicate that Nigeria witnessed at least 74 press attacks from January to August 2023, a slight increase from the 72 incidents reported in 2019. This escalating trend signals a significant threat to press freedom within the country.
Research by Space for Change points to Nigeria as the epicenter of press-related challenges in West Africa, with 122 out of 207 reported cases of press and media attacks occurring in Nigeria alone.
The Importance of Press Freedom
Press freedom is crucial for the dissemination of uncensored news, which is integral to the public’s right to be informed. When the media is under siege, it directly impacts citizens’ access to information.
The Nigerian constitution mandates the media to serve as a watchdog, ensuring government accountability and equipping citizens with necessary information for informed decisions. Intimidation and threats against journalists cast doubt on the government’s actions, undermining public trust and essential democratic discourse.
By detaining journalists without due process, security forces not only contravene the Nigerian constitution but also violate international human rights conventions to which Nigeria is a party. Freedom of expression and media are foundational to global human rights standards.
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines the freedom of expression, emphasizing the importance of a free press for governance in both nascent and established democracies.
“A threat to press freedom is a threat to our democracy. In cases of corruption, a free press plays a pivotal role in uncovering abuses of power. While the media is not above the law, the rightful venue to adjudicate accusations in a democracy is through the judicial system,” remarked Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, following Olatunji’s release.