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MRA RELEASES 1998 ANNUAL REPORT: TWO JOURNALISTS
AND ONE MEDIA OWNER WERE KILLED IN 1998
Lagos – Thursday, March 18, 1999:
At least two journalists and one media owner lost their
lives in circumstances considered an affront on freedoms of expression and
press in Nigeria in 1998. These are among a total of 105 journalists,
media workers and owners who suffered various forms of human rights abuses
in 1998 as security agents of the Nigerian government waged a brutal war
on the media for much of last year, according to a report released by
Media Rights Agenda (MRA).
In the 73 – page report entitled; Back from the Brink,
1998 Annual Report On The State Of The Media In Nigeria, the
organization said there were 55 instances of attacks on the media during
the year under review.
Most of the attacks, the report said, occurred during the
first part of the year, January to June, when the late General Sani Abacha,
held sway as the head of state.
For example, of the 55 attacks recorded during the year
review, 35 took place during the first half. This represents 67.6 per
cent of the total number of attacks.
Also, the report noted that of the 105 persons involved in
the 55 attacks during the year, 70 persons representing 66.7 percent of
the total, experienced theirs during the Abacha era.
It added that no less than 15 persons who are not
journalists or media workers were similarly attacked because they were
“unwise” enough to have cultivated the company of journalists.
The report further noted that the list of recorded attacks
is by no means all inclusive because most harassments go unreported. This
it said, is as a result of the fact that victims from experiences know
that investigations will not be conducted into such complaints because the
attacks mostly bear imprint of official complicity.
Like the year before it, most of the attacks, the report
noted, were directed at TELL and The News magazines. The
attacks were motivated in the main, by publications exposing the various
schemes of the late head of state and security operatives toward this
transformation into a civilian president as well as his shady financial
dealings.
At the height of the attacks on the press, the report noted
that The News magazine, apart from having its computers and office
equipment seized, had its offices and printing press occupied.
Specifically, in April, no less than 10 of its staff, including editors,
reporters and other workers, were in detention.
Despite all odds, both The News and Tempo
magazines and the daily evening newspaper, P.M. News, remained on
the newsstand throughout the period, although, sometimes in limited
quantities.
The report noted that one of the severest attacks on the
media during the year under review, was the jailing of Mr. Niran Malaolu –
Editor of The Diet newspaper, by the Major General Victor Malu coup
tribunal.
The report also shows that like last year, most of the
attacks took place in Lagos State obviously with its concentration of
print and electronic media.
Other states where incidents of attacks were recorded,
include; Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Rivers States,
Anambra and Abuja, the federal capital territory.
The report which noted that for the media, 1998, could be
divided into two eras; the media during General Sani Abacha and the media
after Abacha, said reprieve came the way of the press with the death of
General Abacha and the coming to power of General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The report noted that with the coming of General Abubakar a
new vista was opened for the press as it offered the much needed change of
scene. Unlike the harassment, arbitrary arrest and assassination that was
a common recourse during the Abacha days General Abubakar embarked on a
policy of rapprochement.
This, the report noted, led to the granting of freedom to
jailed journalists and the media workers.
The report further noted, that there were other
developments in the media industry which heightened tension. One of those
was the National Mass Media Commission as provided for in the 1995 Draft
Constitution. This followed the decision of the General Abubakar’s regime
that the Draft Constitution would be the organic law for the incoming
civilian government.
The report noted that it was not all sorrow for the media
during the year. Apart from the various positive developments in the
media industry during the year review, the Nigerian journalist had cause
to smile for recognition bestowed on it both by international and local
organizations.
For further information, please contact:
Osaro Odemwingie
Publications Officer
Tel: 01-4930831
Fax: 01-4930831
E-mail:
mra@rcl.nig.com
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