They were being incarcerated, assassinated, or even frustrated out of life. These have been a recycle living of any investigative journalist. The real matter that pained to the heart is the war the Federal Government is waging against journalism as a profession. Journalist and Government are now eyes and pepper that doesn't want to come in contact. It is a national disgrace to Nigeria seeing her jailing, killing and investigating any constructive criticism written by activists/investigative journalists. Can a country actually survive without being given freedom to the press? Actually no. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CJP) conducted and published a three-year research in December 2018 leaving the record at not fewer than 251 journalists who were jailed worldwide. Is this what the world has been keeping silent on, is this how we should be treated? Nigerian government alone has a kind of maltreatment against the profession. The voices were speaking through a hollow pipe and now they were trying to block all these means to put the country in total darkness.
The tectonic of reproducing faithfulness to the society can't be over-emphasize in a country that has the will and might like Nigeria. We were all there when almost all the activists and investigative journalists were being threatening of death and jail. Jones Abiri, Agba Jalingo, Steven Kefason, Dadiyata and Sowore were all part and parcel of these threats. The only trial they've liking with them is TREASON. Treason, why being charged for planning to overthrow the government? I haven't seen where a government official who squandered the government's money is being charged to court. The brutality they've released on them is more than what could be imagined by anybody. Are they armed robbers, do they steal government property? Actually no.
Strongly to be precise, the government doesn't want their illicit activities to be brought before the masses. All they could do is to sentence anyone who is found guilty of hate speech or writing death by hanging. What did they do to those behind Ikoyi apartment billions, Gandollar among others? It is so unfortunate that the government is not addressing the issue that needs a great concern.
A writer and investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo did research on corrupt activities in Nigerian police cells, courtroom and prisons. He spent two weeks conducting this research, spent 5 days in Pedro, Shomolu police cell and 8 days in ikoyi, Lagos prison.
After unveiling the corrupt practices which he tagged #CashandCarry on his twitter handle that geared up a hullabaloo on social media. Some days after, we learned the government is looking for him and ready to prosecute him. They all know what he did was actually correct and tally with the way our prisons, courtroom and police cells have turned to. Upon coming across the material Mr. Fisayo did, it really saddened to have the picture of how corruption has eaten our correctional centers and police cells. After seeing such work, I myself prayed and congratulated him for a job well done. Also, an activist, Deji Adeyanju, he was arrested 6 times in 2018 and sent to prison 3 times. According to an interview conducted through him via his twitter handle, he said: "The goal was to charge him for terrorism so I wouldn't get bail which was why I was sent to Keffi prison. When that failed, they dug up an old case where I was discharged and acquitted." So traumatic that our government whom we rely on is the one sending us to the lion's den.
Now come the era of hate speech. You say nonsense, you pay 10million as a fine or death by hanging. To me, they are trying to shun investigative journalism/Activism because, after the research of any investigative journalistic work, it is usually offensive, prone to anger and hard to believe. It is like paradox which when puzzled on, the meaning becomes clearer.
BABALOLA, Writer, Journalist, and Activist.
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