Every second of November is proclaimed as International Day to End Impunity against Journalists. Members states are urged by the United Nations General Assembly to implement definite measures to counter the present culture of impunity.
However, according to the Global Impunity Index report published by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), there have been several cases of impunity against journalists in countries where democracy is practised. It is indeed painful when people empowered by the constitution to carry out their duties are killed regularly around the world and their perpetrators are not prosecuted.
Notably, in Nigeria, apart from being a great profession, journalism is a call to national duty. This is for the fact that under section 22 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, journalists are obliged to uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people.
It is, however, appalling that this section of the constitution is being violated by the rich and powerful people in the society, gangsters, and to a certain extent, owners of the media.
In this country, we have heard and seen instances where accountable journalists were killed, and some are still detained for carrying out their jobs as vanguards and watchmen of the society.
Frankly speaking, there is no doubt that these acts of negligence from government and security agencies have contributed to crippling the ability and efforts of the journalist to carry out their jobs efficiently and effectively.
Incidentally, it has increased the rate of crime, corruption and mismanagement by cartels, government officials, multinational companies and other stakeholders.
Just recently, a young journalist filled with passion and enthusiasm, Gidado Yushau Shuaib, was arrested alongside his webmaster in Abuja for publishing an investigative report on a farm, which is believed to belong to a former public official of the country.
Most recently is also the case of Fisayo Soyombo, an investigative journalist who carried out a report to expose the ills of the police, prison and judicial system in the country. His life and that of his family is currently at stake due to threats. The moment you are apprehended as a journalist you are charged with either treasonable felony, terrorism, disturbance of public peace, defamation or even all these dubious allegations combined.
Journalists likes Jones Abiri, George Uboh, Stephen Kefas, Abubakar Idris (Dadiyata), whose whereabouts is still unknown, and a host of others have suffered heavily from the hands of those who felt offended by their reports.
I strongly believe that journalism is a noble profession and can be used to bring about positive change, even with the ongoing challenges practitioners are facing. It is high time these ‘powerful leaders’ knew that “it is only a coward that dies twice.
In a nutshell, as we celebrate another year to end impunity against journalists, our prayer is that the younger generation be spared of this ugly fate. As it is said, struggle continues and victory is certain.
Isah Ismaila Gagarawa is a corps member in Abuja and a graduate of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano. He can be reached via [email protected]
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