In a sweeping development, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has issued a strong condemnation of the harassment and unlawful arrests of journalists, including Ms. Azuka Ogujiuba and Mr. Nasir Hassan Yelwa, by police operatives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ekiti State, and other parts of the country.
The Union described the arrests as a gross abuse of power and a grave threat to democracy, stressing that journalists are not criminals, but professionals with a constitutional duty to inform citizens and hold leaders accountable.
“The continuous targeting of journalists by security operatives is unacceptable and must stop immediately,” the NUJ declared.
The Union demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detained journalists and called on the Inspector-General of Police to urgently investigate the incidents and punish those found culpable.
It warned that democracy cannot thrive where the press is intimidated, harassed, or treated as an enemy of the state, and vowed to resist any further assaults on press freedom.
The NUJ pledged to mobilize its members nationwide and seek international solidarity in defense of media rights, declaring its unwavering commitment to safeguarding journalists and protecting Nigeria’s democratic space.
Reaffirming its resolve, the Union concluded: “An injury to one journalist is an injury to all.”
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