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AFRICMIL Urges Police to End Attacks on Journalists Amid #EndBadGovernance Protests
The African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has expressed grave concern over the recent assaults on journalists reporting on the #EndBadGovernance protests taking place in various regions of the country.
The organization has urged Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, along with other security agencies, to uphold their duty of maintaining law and order while respecting citizens’ rights.
Despite President Bola Tinubu’s recent address aimed at addressing the situation, the protests, which began on August 1, 2024, persist in several states across the nation.
In a statement released on Monday, AFRICMIL’s coordinator, Dr. Chido Onumah, condemned the violence perpetrated by police officers against journalists and other citizens. The group emphasized that such actions violate the constitutional right to freedom of assembly and expression.
The statement underscored that the Nigerian Constitution (1999), specifically Chapter 4, Section 39 (1), guarantees every individual’s right to freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to hold opinions, receive information, and disseminate ideas without undue interference.
Attacking journalists who are merely performing their professional duties, and brutalizing citizens for exercising their right to protest, constitutes a severe breach of this constitutional guarantee.
AFRICMIL highlighted that the #EndBadGovernance protests did not arise spontaneously. They are a direct response to the severe economic hardship inflicted upon Nigerians due to poorly executed policies, extravagant government spending, and mismanagement of the economy.
The protests are a reaction to the government’s abrupt and poorly planned removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, which have led to significant increases in the cost of goods and services.
This economic strain has been compounded by what the group describes as the government’s insensitive spending on non-essential items, such as a new residence for the Vice President and luxury vehicles for lawmakers.
Given the severe impact of these policies and the lack of measures to mitigate their adverse effects, it is understandable why citizens have taken to the streets to express their grievances through the #EndBadGovernance protests.
AFRICMIL asserts that the police have no justification for attacking journalists covering these events or for using violence against peaceful protesters.
The organization has reiterated its call for the Inspector General of Police to address the misconduct of his officers and to immediately cease all forms of harassment against journalists performing their roles.
AFRICMIL stresses that protecting the rights of journalists and protesters is crucial for upholding democratic principles and ensuring that citizens can voice their concerns without fear of retribution.
Candidates scheduled to retake the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will start receiving text messages from today, Thursday. A total of 379,997 candidates across five South East states and Lagos are expected to resit the exam. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, confirmed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
He explained that 206,610 candidates in 65 centers in Lagos and 173,387 candidates across 92 centers in the Owerri zone of the South East were affected. Oloyede took full responsibility for what he described as a “sabotage” of the UTME and apologized to the candidates. Out of the 1.9 million who sat for the exam, more than 1.5 million scored below 200 out of a possible 400 marks.
A lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Christian Okeke, has called on the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, to go beyond shedding tears and take full accountability by resigning from his position.
This comes after JAMB admitted to technical issues during the 2025 UTME. Okeke criticized the decision to have candidates in some centers rewrite the exam, describing it as unfair and emotionally distressing. He insisted that only the release of the original results can truly correct the situation.
According to him, JAMB initially defended the poor outcomes, where over 1.5 million candidates scored below 200, claiming it reflected their academic ability. He argued that it took public outcry and pressure from stakeholders before the board acknowledged its failures.
He described Oloyede’s emotional apology as insufficient, saying, “Tears won’t fix the damage. His resignation is the next responsible step.” Okeke also condemned the planned resit for candidates in 65 Lagos centers and 92 across the South East, calling it an inconsiderate move that shows a lack of empathy for the affected students and their families.
Activist and president of the North Central Youth Council, Sunday Asuku, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima with a Christian candidate in the 2027 general election.
In a statement on Monday, Asuku stressed that Tinubu’s choice of vice president could make or break his chances for re-election. He argued that selecting a Christian vice president would not only be symbolic but also a strategic and unifying move for Nigeria’s democracy.
Asuku mentioned that the 2027 elections will be a crucial test of Nigeria’s commitment to unity and inclusivity. He pointed out that the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 elections created division, and that addressing this imbalance with a Christian running mate would help strengthen national cohesion.
He went on to say that religious balance in leadership is still a vital necessity in Nigeria’s diverse society. “Tinubu has a chance to correct the mistake of 2023 and make a strong statement of inclusion. This opportunity should not be missed,” Asuku said.
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