Khai Reports, a Nigeria’s digital newspaper outlet, has voiced out its concerns with the way the Nigerian government’s apparatus is being used to coerce the constitutional rights of journalists in the country.
The ways the security agents are being used to intimidate media practitioners in the country using the instruments of the state, which they swore to use to protect the citizens, is becoming so ugly and it calls for concern.
The Cybercrime Act 2015 and its 2024 Amendment which is a law that aims to protect data, networks, and privacy, but its application and amendments have raised concerns regarding potential misuse and impact on free speech and expression.
“There is no free speech in the country again. What they want is for you to bend the truth to suit their own agenda,” said Femi Akinola, Editor of Khai Reports, while lamenting what some of his journalists have suffered under this draconian action.
“It is regrettable to have one of my journalists, Mr. Adekola Boluwaji Nifemi, being in the watchlist because of his job.
“We have received some people who came to our office in Lagos with a letter inviting him for interrogation.
“They have been repeating their visits because of this innocent young man. They claimed he had written articles which were offensive to the government and its officials.
“The action of these security agents is becoming embarrassing to the extent that they still have the guts to invade the home of this man in Owode, Ede, Osun State looking out for him.
“I believe the international community is watching what is going on in this country. These people are still looking for Mr. Adekola. It is very sad,” the Editor said, who urges well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and protect the