In a recent radio appearance, Comrade Grace Ike, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Correspondents Chapel, highlighted the various threats journalists face in the course of their work. These include violence, harassment, intimidation, arbitrary detention, online and offline threats, assault, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination, all of which negatively impact press freedom.
Comrade Ike emphasized that the NUJ FCT Council has zero tolerance for intimidation and harassment of journalists, noting that state actors and security agencies have often used excessive force and intimidation against journalists. She condemned these acts and called for an immediate end to violence and intimidation against journalists, stressing that such actions undermine the public's right to information and press freedom.
"We demand public apology and accountability from perpetrators to protect journalists," Comrade Ike stated. She reaffirmed the NUJ FCT's commitment to taking strong stands against intimidation, particularly against female journalists, and pursuing all necessary means to end it.
Comrade Ike likened journalists to "watchdogs of society," emphasizing their role in promoting transparency, collaboration, and respect for journalists. She referenced the NUJ FCT's press week in July 2025, where the need for a free press was emphasized, and noted that the message had far-reaching implications.
The NUJ FCT, she said, is proactive in advocating for the protection of journalists and seeking accountability for abuses against them in Nigeria. The goal, she concluded, is to create an environment where journalists can operate without fear or intimidation, and to end impunity, harassment, violence, and assault against journalists, particularly female journalists.