The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Tinubu-led government to cease the prosecution of journalists and whistleblowers for fulfilling their professional duties.
In a statement posted on their verified X account on Sunday, August 25th, 2024, the civil society organization expressed deep concern over the recent arrest of investigative journalist Adejuwon Soyinka, who was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS).
SERAP urged the federal government to end the harassment and intimidation of journalists, stressing that such actions create a hostile environment for press freedom and have a chilling effect on other media professionals.
The organization also emphasized the urgency of releasing Soyinka, who was reportedly apprehended by the DSS at Muritala Muhammed International Airport, and highlighted the broader implications of his arrest.
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SERAP expressed concern that Soyinka’s arrest is part of a wider crackdown on journalists, whistleblowers, and human rights defenders in Nigeria.
The organization warned that this escalating repression is not only silencing critical voices but also allowing severe and systemic human rights violations to persist with impunity, due to the lack of transparency and accountability.
It also called on Nigeria’s international partners and UN human rights bodies to publicly condemn the assault on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association in the country.
SERAP urged these entities to hold the Nigerian government accountable for its obligations under international human rights law.
Read full tweet, “BREAKING: The Tinubu administration must immediately release journalist Adejuwon Soyinka who was reportedly arrested by the DSS at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport today.
The administration must end the persecution of journalists simply for doing their job. We’re concerned that Soyinka’s arrest is part of a growing crackdown against journalists, whistleblowers and human rights defenders in Nigeria.
The growing crackdown on journalists and whistleblowers is creating a chilling effect among other journalists and whistleblowers thereby allowing grave and systemic human rights violations to continue with impunity and minimal transparency and accountability.
The harassment and intimidation of journalists and whistleblowers shows that the Tinubu administration is intolerant of peaceful dissent.
This is entirely incompatible with democratic principles and the rule of law. Nigeria’s international partners and UN human rights mechanisms should publicly denounce the blatant assault on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in the country.”
BREAKING: The Tinubu administration must immediately release journalist Adejuwon Soyinka who was reportedly arrested by the DSS at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport today.
The administration must end the persecution of journalists simply for doing their job.
We’re…
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) August 25, 2024
