The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has called for comprehensive security reforms, including community policing, the consideration of state policing, and the deployment of modern surveillance technology such as CCTV in Nigeria’s cities.
The NUJ FCT Council in a statement by its Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, also stressed the need for the Minister of the FCT and relevant security agencies to rise to the occasion and act, not with words, but with results.
The Union while reflecting not just on the gains of nationhood, but on the urgent and deepening challenges that continue to threaten the nation’s democracy, safety, and freedom of expression, stressed that it is the constitutional duty of the government to protect the lives and property of its citizens.
Comrade Ike said that Nigerians cannot celebrate independence while journalists are hunted or silenced and citizens live in fear, stressing that the senseless and avoidable killing of a journalist, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a rising star in Nigerian journalism, tragically underscored the reality – insecurity remains a pressing crisis.
In the words of Ike; “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 account.
“Their safety and welfare must be seen as national priorities. We demand: Improved working conditions; Fair remuneration and Psychosocial support for journalists exposed to trauma and danger.
As we commemorate this symbolic anniversary of Nigeria’s independence, there is the need for practitioners to rededicate themselves to ethical journalism, anchored on truth, fairness, and public interest.
She said; “But we cannot do it alone. Government, civil society, and the private sector must collaborate to protect the press and promote the ideals of freedom, justice, and accountability.
“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. Let her memory ignite a renewed national commitment to protect journalists and confront insecurity with urgency and sincerity.
“On this Independence Day, we call on Nigerians to remember that democracy dies in silence; and silence thrives when the press is unprotected,” Ike stated.
