The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Federal Capital Territory Council, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike to make comprehensive security reforms.
NUJ FCT chairman, Grace Ike, made this call in her statement to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
She noted that the call is requisite as insecurity and other challenges continue to threaten Nigeria’s democracy, safety, and freedom of expression.
According to her, journalists are hunted, and citizens live in fear amid pervasive insecurity in the country.
The Chairman of NUJ further cited the recent brutal killing of Arise Television journalist Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, underscoring that insecurity remains a pressing crisis.
“It is the constitutional duty of the government to protect the lives and property of its citizens. Yet, the senseless and avoidable killing of our colleague, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a rising star in Nigerian journalism, tragically underscores the reality: insecurity remains a pressing crisis.
“We cannot celebrate independence while journalists are hunted or silenced and citizens live in fear.
“The NUJ FCT Council once again calls for comprehensive security reforms, including community policing, consideration of state policing, and the deployment of modern surveillance technology such as CCTV in our cities. The Minister of the FCT and relevant security agencies must rise to the occasion and act, not with words, but with results.
“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,” he stated.
This comes after the tragic killing of Arise TV journalist Somtochukwu.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu on Wednesday said the country is winning the war on insecurity.
Nigeria at 65: Journalists are hunted, silenced – NUJ FCT makes demands from Tinubu, Wike