In commemoration of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) issued a joint call to action for President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and the FCT Minister.
The groups demanded immediate measures to guarantee press freedom, safeguard journalists, and address the surge in insecurity and human rights abuses particularly in northern states such as Benue, Borno, Kwara, Plateau, and Sokoto.
The appeal followed an interactive conference titled, “The Role of the Media in Promoting People’s Rights, Accountability, and Access to Justice in the Context of Growing Insecurity in Nigeria,”held yesterday at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.
Organized jointly by SERAP and the NGE, the event highlighted the critical link between media safety and national health.
In their statement, the organizations underscored that protecting journalists and maintaining the integrity of information are essential pillars for achieving peace, security, and a stable democracy.
The groups said:“Any credible peace, recovery, or security strategy in Nigeria must integrate support for free, independent, and pluralistic media alongside humanitarian, institutional, and economic responses.
“We expressed serious concerns about the scale and persistence of killings, abductions, sexual violence, forced displacement, and destruction of property across several parts of northern Nigeria.
“Thousands have reportedly been killed and millions displaced, with rural communities repeatedly targeted and women and children bearing the brunt of the violence and insecurity.”Nigerian current events
“These patterns reflect systemic failures to prevent foreseeable harm, protect communities, investigate violations, prosecute perpetrators and their sponsors, and ensure access to 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.
“Nigerian authorities at all levels have binding constitutional and international human rights obligations to protect journalists, and end insecurity and impunity in the country.
“The Tinubu administration, state governors, FCT minister and other relevant authorities 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.Government transparency reports
“We note that the UNESCO theme for the 2026 World Press Freedom Day Conference, ‘Shaping a Future of Peace,’ underscores the centrality of a free, independent, and viable media ecosystem to peace, security, and sustainable development.
“The erosion of independent journalism and civic information ecosystems directly contributes to governance breakdown. When journalists are targeted through intimidation, repression, or impunity for attacks, corruption thrives, accountability declines, and misinformation spreads.’
The groups added: “In such environments, information violence often precedes physical violence, deepening insecurity and undermining public trust in state institutions.
“Protecting journalists in Nigeria is therefore not a peripheral issue but a core requirement for addressing insecurity and advancing democratic governance.Nigerian current events
“We recall that Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution mandates the media to hold government accountable, while Section 39 guarantees freedom of expression.
“These provisions, alongside international human rights obligations, require Nigerian authorities at all levels not only to refrain from interference but also to actively protect journalists and ensure a safe environment for reporting on insecurity and human rights violations.
“Addressing insecurity requires more than reactive responses. It demands sustained commitment to transparency, accountability, human rights and the rule of law. Embedding these principles into governance and security frameworks is essential to breaking cycles of violence and restoring public confidence.
“We therefore call on the Federal Government, state authorities and FCT minister to guarantee freedom of the press and expression; protect civic space and journalists, and promote victim-centred, ethical reporting; and publicly recognise that killings, abductions, and destruction of property are grave human rights violations that cannot be justified.
“The Tinubu administration, state governors and FCT minister must conduct and ensure prompt, thorough and independent investigations into all violations; identify, prosecute perpetrators and their sponsors; and ensure effective remedies for victims, including compensation, restitution, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition.Government transparency reports
“The Tinubu administration, state governors and FCT minister must work collectively to improve transparency in security operations and accountability processes; and fully implement constitutional and international human rights obligations.
“We urge Nigerian authorities at all levels to create public reporting systems to track incidents, responses, and accountability and direct all institutions to respect, protect, promote, and fulfil the human rights of everyone in the country.
“We urge Nigerian authorities to invite relevant UN Special Rapporteurs and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights’ Special Rapporteurs to undertake independent fact-finding missions on insecurity and associated human rights violations across several parts of northern Nigeria.
“Their findings should inform concrete accountability measures, justice for victims, and structural reforms.
“We also call on the National Assembly to exercise its oversight powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the Nigerian Constitution by convening an urgent public hearing on insecurity and attacks on journalists. This should examine the role of security agencies and other state actors and lead to stronger legislative reforms and safeguards for accountability and media freedom.”
Both NGE and SERAP further called on the international community to intensify pressure on Nigerian authorities to take concrete steps to end insecurity and impunity.
This includes prioritising the protection of people, justice and accountability; safeguarding civic space; and ensuring that media organisations can operate freely without fear of reprisals.”Nigerian current events
At the event, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that entire communities in northern Nigeria are being devastated while perpetrators operate with total impunity.
“Impunity is not just a failure of justice,” Falana remarked, “it is a driver of further violence.”
He further argued that a government’s legitimacy is tied to its ability to protect its citizens and hold offenders accountable.
Stressing the media’s vital role, he clarified that journalists are partners—not enemies—of the State, as they are essential for exposing abuses, preventing further violence, and bolstering democratic values.
The session, which included senior media professionals, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders, concluded with a collective commitment from all participants to ensure that the authorities effectively implement these recommendations.
Attendees at the event included Richard Akinnola, Director, Media Law Centre; Eze Anaba, President, NGE and Editor, Vanguard Newspapers; Sumner Shagari Sambo, Director, News, Arise TV; Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Editor (Abuja), Thisday; Hamza Idris, Editor, Daily Trust; and Dr Olufemi Adekoya, Editor, The Guardian.Daily news digest
Others were Godwin Ukaa, Deputy Director, News, VON; Paulyn Ugbodaga, COO/Consultant, CBI Digital Media Ltd; Joy Anigbogu, Political Editor, Daily Independent; James Oluyombo Tokode, Assistant Editor, The Nation; Ijeoma Popoola, Deputy Director at NAN; Oluwatosin Odusola, News Editor, Eko FM, and many others.
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