A coalition of civil society groups and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore staged a protest on Thursday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja to demand the release of a journalist named Daniel Ojukwu.
Ojukwu, who works for the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has been detained since May 1, 2024, and the group is concerned about press freedom and shrinking civic space in Nigeria. The protesters have vowed to continue occupying the building until Ojukwu is released.
The detention of Ojukwu has sparked widespread condemnation from journalists and civil society groups in the country. Many have expressed their concerns about the shrinking civic space and the crackdown on press freedom in Nigeria. The government's recent actions have been seen as an attempt to silence critics and stifle dissent.
The protest at the Force Headquarters in Abuja is part of a larger movement to protect journalists and other civic actors from intimidation and harassment. The coalition of civil society groups has called on the Nigerian government to respect the rights of journalists and allow them to carry out their work without fear of intimidation or arrest.
A free and independent press is crucial to a healthy democracy, and it is essential that journalists are able to carry out their work without fear of retribution. The detention of Ojukwu is a clear violation of press freedom and a threat to the democratic values that Nigerians hold dear. It is important that the government takes immediate action to release Ojukwu and respect the rights of journalists in the country.
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