HEDA Decries Attempts To Gag Media, CSOs

The Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has condemned what it called incessant attempts to gag the Media and other Civil Society Organizations.

This followed the recent arrest, detention and release of journalists of Peoples Gazette (an online media platform) by officers and men of the Federal Capital Territory’s Police Command in Utako, Abuja.

A statement signed by the chairman of HEDA, Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society group said the civic space, media and other rights activists would never be gagged nor succumb to any form of intimidation in any guise by any force(s).

HEDA boss decried the use and compromise of the police to criminalize allegations of defamation against the civic space which he described as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy and freedom of expression guaranteed by Nigerian Constitution and other international laws to which Nigeria is bound to obey.

He called on the president and National Human Rights Commission to communicate the implications of this ugly trend to the Police leadership, condemn the actions and act accordingly.

“Incessant attacks and harassment” on the media and civil society groups by public officials using the instrumentalities of the military and paramilitary personnel.

HEDA boss recalled sadly how the erstwhile Army Chief, Tukur Buratai, used the military to oppress the media and the Civil society organizations.