Nigerian Guild of Editors has called for the release of all journalists in detention.
While strongly condemning various attempts at muzzling the media, the guild says in 2020, about 60 journalists in Nigeria faced life and career-threatening challenges in the form of intimidation, arrest, and detention.
It adds that 3 journalists have been killed within the same period; one by security forces during a protest in Abuja and the others by unknown gunmen in Adamawa and Nasarawa states.
President of the guild, Mr. Mustapha Isah who stated these in a statement while observing 2021 World Press Freedom Day urges private sector and the government, to provide special protection for journalists, as most of them are often neglected and exposed to sundry challenge.
It also notes that globally, 66 journalists were murdered in 2020 and over 1,000 have died from COVID-19 in 73 countries from the onset of the pandemic.
The Statement celebrates journalists in the frontline of COVID-19 pandemic coverage as well as those charged with the responsibility of reporting crime and security, at a time when the nation was struggling with spates of insecurity.
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The guild who laments harassment of the media by the National Broadcasting Commission, the police, DSS, and other state actors, calls for a review of the National Broadcasting Code and other media statutes, to bring them in tune with democracy and the promotion of free speech.
NR