The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has condemned the persistent insecurity and worsening threats to press freedom in the country, declaring that Nigeria cannot truly celebrate 65 years of independence when journalists are being hunted, silenced, or killed.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, the council said the brutal killing of a young journalist, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, underscores the government’s failure to protect lives and property, which it described as a “constitutional duty repeatedly abandoned.”
“Sommie’s death is not just a personal loss; it is a national disgrace. She returned from abroad to serve her country with passion and professionalism.
“Her blood must not spill in vain,” the NUJ said, warning that democracy cannot survive where press freedom is under siege.
The NUJ stressed that insecurity remains Nigeria’s most pressing crisis, lamenting that citizens live in fear while journalists, who are supposed to be the conscience of the nation, continue to face harassment, intimidation, and death.
The council demanded comprehensive security reforms, including the establishment of community and state policing, alongside the deployment of modern surveillance technologies such as CCTV across Nigerian cities.
It specifically urged the Minister of the FCT, Nyeson Wike, and security agencies to move beyond rhetoric and take decisive action.
The statement read partly: “Journalists are not enemies of the state, they are the lifeblood of democracy, risking their lives daily to tell the truth, amplify the voices of the people, and hold those in power accountable. Their safety and welfare must be seen as national priorities.”
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The NUJ also pressed for improved working conditions, fair remuneration, and psychosocial support for journalists, noting that many reporters face trauma and danger daily in the line of duty without adequate protection or compensation.
While reaffirming its commitment to ethical journalism rooted in truth, fairness, and the public interest, the union said government, civil society, and the private sector must work together to guarantee press freedom and accountability.
“We cannot celebrate independence while journalists are hunted or silenced and citizens live in fear,” the council declared.
It added that Nigeria’s democracy is at risk: “Democracy dies in silence; and silence thrives when the press is unprotected.”
The NUJ urged Nigerians to mark this year’s independence anniversary with sober reflection, insisting that Sommie’s murder should serve as a turning point for real reforms in security and press freedom.
