Reporters Without Borders (Reporters San Frontieres RSF), a France-based media body has condemned what it called ‘daily abuses suffered by Nigeria’s Journalists’ and rated the country one of the most dangerous nations in Africa for journalists.
In a press statement made available to our Correspondent on Wednesday, the media body also charged the Nigerian government to rise up to the challenges facing media practitioners in the country and as well make their security a priority.
“Reporters Without Borders takes a look at the breaches of freedom of news and information in Nigeria during the first quarter of 2012, turning the spotlight on one of the most dangerous countries in Africa for journalists. For the first time, it has included the Islamist militia Boko Haram in its latest list of Predators of Freedom of Information,” the statement said.
The media body condemned all the breaches of freedom of information recorded between December 24 and March 24 in Nigeria. It also highlighted the almost daily arrests and assault of journalists and the obstruction of access to, and distribution of, information, stressing that it is an insidious atmosphere in which journalists have to carry out their work.
?“During the period in question, Reporters Without Borders recorded the murder of one journalist, the killing of another with no proof that it was linked to the victim’s work, nine assaults, seven arrests, three journalists threatened, four instances of seizure of equipment or deletion of files, three cases of access to information being cut off, three court cases against journalists and news organisations, the closure of a press centre and a media outlet’s premises vandalised”
“Whether these abuses? – obstruction of information and control of the government’s image, or gratuitous violence and threats, were carried out by the government or private organizations using armed groups, they confirm the authorities’ desire to silence journalists who try to report on the instability now gripping the country”
?“Nigeria embodies a paradox. On the one hand, it is a country where freedom of news and information is effective so far as the pluralism and vitality of the media are concerned, and on the other, it has one of Africa’s worst records for infringements of press freedom and a worrying level of danger for journalists.” the statement further reads.
Reporters Without Borders also berated the Nigerian authorities’ desire to control the country’s image and monitor what the media publish or broadcast, stressing that the government had demonstrated its resolve to hide the real extent of the population’s demonstrations of dissatisfaction, as well as the threat presented by Boko Haram.
“It seems as if the obstruction of access to information, seizures of newspaper print runs and equipment, as well as threats and lawsuits against journalists are aimed at allowing the government to play down its own weakness and the difficulties faced by the country” the body said.