By Alltimepost.com
Abuja, Nigeria – Frontline human and environmental rights group, the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), has strongly condemned the wanton arrests of online bloggers and journalists by the Nigerian authorities, warning that such acts represent a threat to democracy.
The organization called on aggrieved public servants and politicians to desist from such acts and rather explore responsible avenues to seek redress for infractions on their persons or roles by the media.
ANEEJ Executive Director, Rev David Ugolor in a statement in Abuja during the weekend noted that since the inception of the Buhari administration, there has been a spate of arrests of bloggers and online journalists, and most recently, with the harassment and arrest of the Publisher of Premium Times.
“ANEEJ believes that Nigeria had made a lot of progress in subscribing to many international alliances which project Nigeria as a country seeking to be open and transparent with the conduct of government business.
“Therefore, the incessant arrests of online journalists and bloggers by aggrieved politicians and public servants is a threat to democracy, convey a signal of intolerance and sets Nigeria’s image at home and abroad back.”
According to him, it reduces the confidence of the international community in Nigeria, introduces an attitude of dictatorship and shrinks the space for civil participation and dialogue.
Rev Ugolor said that the efforts of the Nigerian military in the North East have been praiseworthy but they must not be used to devalue the constitutionally held role of journalists to hold government accountable to the people of Nigeria.
He urged public servants and politicians who are aggrieved by the reportage of the efforts of the military expeditions in the North East by online journalists to use the courts to seek redress instead of wanton arrests.
“Bloggers and online journalists form a vast network of media professionals who contribute to nation building. We are witnesses of the role which the Nigeria media plays as the fourth estate. Incessant arrests of online journalist weaken our democracy by foreclosing the need for debate and dialogue” Ugolor further stressed.
