Di International Press Institute Nigeria don waste no time. As soon as Acting Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu step into im new role, IPI Nigeria don send am one clear and direct message — press freedom no be luxury for dis kontri, e be necessity, and di Nigeria Police Force under im watch must respect, protect, and uphold di rights of journalists to do dia work without fear, harassment, or intimidation.
Why IPI Nigeria Dey Raise Dis Matter Now
Di call from IPI Nigeria no come from nowhere. For years, journalists across Nigeria don face serious challenges when e come to doing dia work freely and safely. Reporters don been arrested while covering protests. Photographers don been detained at scenes wey dem suppose to have every right to document.
Media houses don been raided. Investigations into sensitive matters — corruption, security, political abuse — don put journalists in di crosshairs of powerful people wey no want dia stories to reach di public.
Under di outgoing IGP Kayode Egbetokun, incidents involving police officers harassing or obstructing journalists on di job draw concern from press freedom organisations on multiple occasions. IPI Nigeria, alongside other media advocacy groups, don raise alarm about a pattern wey, if e no be deliberately addressed from di very top of di police command, go continue to threaten di ability of Nigerian journalists to inform di public and hold power accountable.
Now Disu don step in. And IPI Nigeria want am to know from day one say dis matter dey on di table and dem go dey watching.
Wetin IPI Nigeria Dey Ask For
Di press freedom organisation dey call on di new Acting IGP to take concrete and visible steps to protect journalists for Nigeria. Dem want am to issue clear directives to police officers across all commands and formations say journalists must not be harassed, arrested without cause, or obstructed in di course of legitimate reporting — whether dem dey cover government activities, community events, protests, or any other matter of public interest.
IPI Nigeria also dey call for di proper investigation and resolution of existing cases where journalists don suffer harm at di hands of security forces. For a new police boss wey want to establish im credentials as a professional and accountable leader, addressing dose outstanding cases go send a powerful signal say di era of impunity for those wey attack di press don begin to close.
Beyond individual cases, IPI Nigeria want to see systemic change — training for police officers on di rights of journalists, clear internal guidelines on how to handle media personnel during operations, and an open-door policy for press freedom organisations to engage with police leadership when incidents arise.
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