International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists: We’ll continue to push for the safety, security of every African journalist —CAJ*
IDEI: NUJ Demands Protection of Journalists, Safeguard of Free Expression
Today is the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. The 2nd of November is set aside by the global body, the United Nations to raise awareness and attention to levels of crimes against journalists and the practice of journalists.
The crimes against the people of the pen is not just a crime against them but speaks of a greater and more insidious plot to undermine the whole of society by stifling those saddled with the responsibility of bringing light to the darkness imposed on society by bad actors, whether state or non-state.
Between 2006 and 2024, over 1,700 journalists have been killed worldwide. 90% of these killings have remained unsolved, perhaps an indication that authorities have not
treated these atrocities with the seriousness they deserve.
It has often been said that when journalists are threatened, the free civic space is threatened and social decline sets in. Sadly, our continent and the Nigerian socio-political space are not impervious to assaults against journalists and their media organisations as data has continuosly shown growing discomfort against the people of the pen by state and non-state actors.
Let us state it for the umpteenth time that journalists are ever ready to contribute their own quota to the development of our country Nigeria, and are ever ready to collaborate with the authorities on a common agenda of development and peace building.
Any act of intimidation of journalists in the performance of their duties will not be looked at kindly, will be resisted, and will ultimately fail. A virile media automatically equates in the long run to a virile society.
On a day such as this, The Nigeria Union of Journalists stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of the pen in the global space as we all collectively strive to advance the cause of humanity.
Aluta Continua!
Victoria Acerta.
Achike Chude
National Secretary
