Bayelsa journalists were among media professionals in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for a two-day training on Human Rights-Centered Journalism, which focused on defending press freedom and strengthening accountability in Nigeria.
The training, holding at Rosemohr Golden Hotel, Uyo, focuses on equipping journalists with the skills to promote accountability, ethical reporting, and the protection of human rights.
One of the key sessions was delivered by legal practitioner and rights advocate, Dr. Abdul Mahmud, who presented a paper titled Press Freedom Under Siege: Arrests, Intimidation, and the Nigerian Constitutional Order. He described recent arrests of journalists as part of “a deliberate architecture of repression designed to muzzle dissent and criminalise investigative reporting.”
Citing examples, Dr. Mahmud mentioned the case of Daniel Ojukwu, an investigative journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), who was secretly detained by police in May 2024 after exposing how ₦147 million meant for classrooms was allegedly diverted to a restaurant. He also referenced the detention of International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) publisher, Dayo Aiyetan, and reporter, Nurudeen Akewushola, who were held for nine hours on allegations of “cyberstalking and defamation” under the Cybercrimes Act.
“These arrests are not about crime,” he said. “They are about power—silencing journalists who dare to expose corruption and abuse of office.”
Other sessions at the training included Journalism with a Gender Lens: Protecting Life, Shaping Narrative by Dr. Anne Agi; Journalism Theory and Practice: A Human Rights Perspective by John Omilabu; and Reporting Under Threat alongside Applying Media Ethics in Daily Practice by Dr. Kabiru Danladi.
Calling for urgent reforms, Dr. Mahmud urged legislative review of the Cybercrimes Act, stronger judicial protection of press freedom, independent oversight of security agencies, and a cultural reorientation that recognises journalism as a pillar of democracy.
“Press freedom is not a luxury,” he concluded. “It is the lifeblood of democracy. A constitutional order that does not defend liberty, especially the liberty of the press, is a contradiction in terms.”
Amnesty International, a global human rights movement present in more than 150 countries, reaffirmed its mission of using the media as a watchdog to hold leaders accountable and fight human rights abuses. It stressed that journalism rooted in human rights is critical to curbing violations and promoting justice in society.
