The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) have urged the Federal Government, state governors, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to strengthen the protection of journalists and take urgent action to address escalating insecurity and human rights violations in parts of northern Nigeria, including Benue, Borno, Kwara, Plateau, and Sokoto states.
The call followed a conference and interactive session on “The Role of the Media in Promoting People’s Rights, Accountability, and Access to Justice in the Context of Growing Insecurity in Nigeria,” held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja. The event was jointly organised by SERAP and NGE to commemorate World Press Freedom Day.
In a joint statement, both organisations emphasised that “protecting journalists and safeguarding information integrity are central drivers of peace, security, and democratic stability,” adding that any credible national security or peace strategy must integrate support for a free, independent, and pluralistic media alongside humanitarian, institutional, and economic interventions.
They raised alarm over what they described as the “scale and persistence of killings, abductions, sexual violence, forced displacement, and destruction of property” across several northern states, noting that thousands have been killed and millions displaced, with women, children, and rural communities disproportionately affected.
According to them, the situation reflects “systemic failures to prevent foreseeable harm, protect communities, investigate violations, prosecute perpetrators and their sponsors, and ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims.” They further argued that these abuses constitute violations of Nigeria’s obligations under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The groups warned that the humanitarian toll remains severe, with communities destroyed, livelihoods lost, and victims left without redress, stressing that persistent impunity continues to weaken democratic governance and erode public trust in state institutions.
SERAP and NGE reiterated that Nigerian authorities at all levels have binding constitutional and international obligations to protect journalists and address insecurity, insisting that the Tinubu administration, state governors, and the FCT minister must take proactive steps to prevent violations, ensure accountability, and deliver justice to victims.
They also referenced UNESCO’s theme for the 2026 World Press Freedom Day Conference, “Shaping a Future of Peace,” describing it as a reminder of “the centrality of a free, independent, and viable media ecosystem to peace, security, and sustainable development.”
The organisations warned that attacks on independent journalism and civic information systems contribute to governance failures, enabling corruption, weakening accountability, and fuelling misinformation. They added that “information violence often precedes physical violence,” further deepening insecurity.
They stressed that protecting journalists is “not a peripheral issue but a core requirement for addressing insecurity and advancing democratic governance,” while citing constitutional provisions that guarantee freedom of expression and mandate the media to hold government accountable.
They further called for urgent reforms anchored on transparency, accountability, human rights, and the rule of law, arguing that these principles must be embedded in governance and security responses to restore public confidence and break cycles of violence.
Among their key demands were stronger guarantees for press freedom, protection of civic space, victim-centred reporting practices, and official recognition of killings, abductions, and destruction of property as serious human rights violations.
They also called for prompt and independent investigations into all reported abuses, prosecution of perpetrators and sponsors, and provision of effective remedies for victims, including compensation, restitution, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition. In addition, they urged improved transparency in security operations and full compliance with both constitutional and international human rights obligations.
The groups further advocated the establishment of public reporting mechanisms to track incidents and responses, as well as invitations to relevant UN and African Commission Special Rapporteurs to conduct independent fact-finding missions in affected regions.
They also urged the National Assembly to exercise its constitutional oversight powers by convening an urgent public hearing on insecurity and attacks on journalists, with a focus on strengthening accountability frameworks and media protections.
At the international level, SERAP and NGE called for increased pressure on Nigerian authorities to end impunity, protect civilians, safeguard civic space, and ensure that media organisations operate without fear of reprisals.
Speaking at the event, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) said entire communities in parts of northern Nigeria are being destroyed with little consequence for perpetrators, warning that “impunity is not just a failure of justice—it is a driver of further violence.”
He added that any government unable or unwilling to protect its citizens or hold offenders accountable risks undermining its own legitimacy, stressing that journalists play a vital role as “partners in exposing abuse, preventing violence, and strengthening democracy.”
Participants, including senior media professionals and civil society actors, expressed support for the recommendations and pledged to work towards their implementation.
