The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has sharply criticized the Nigerian government’s ongoing persecution of investigative journalists, particularly David Hundeyin. HURIWA called on the international community to closely monitor these escalating attacks on press freedom, warning that the wave of arrests, harassment, and abductions of journalists under President Bola Tinubu’s administration poses a severe threat to democracy and constitutionalism in Nigeria.
In a statement, HURIWA expressed deep concern that David Hundeyin, a prominent investigative journalist, has been targeted by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) due to his alleged connections with Bristol Isaac, also known as PIDOMNigeria, and Michael Alade. The association alleged that Hundeyin’s investigative reporting, especially his exposés on President Tinubu’s alleged certificate fraud during his time as President-elect, has provoked the current administration. HURIWA claimed that Hundeyin is being persecuted solely for his dedication to uncovering the truth and holding those in power accountable.
During a recent press conference in Abuja, NPF spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi revealed that the police had linked Hundeyin and Alade to PIDOMNigeria, who faces accusations of leaking classified documents, fraud, sedition, and tax evasion. Adejobi stated that an investigation by the National Cybercrime Center identified these individuals as accomplices in crimes allegedly committed by PIDOMNigeria. The principal suspect, Bristol Isaac, was reportedly arrested in a Port Harcourt hotel after a dramatic attempt to resist arrest, including destroying potential evidence by smashing and flushing his phone down a toilet.
HURIWA expressed alarm over the NPF’s actions, describing the ongoing persecution of journalists as a concerted effort by the Tinubu administration to silence dissenting voices and clamp down on investigative journalism. The association pointed to a pattern of intimidation and repression against journalists since the current administration took office.
The association noted a worrying increase in the arrest and harassment of journalists under President Tinubu’s leadership. “One of the earliest incidents involved the arrest of Segun Olatunji, former Editor of FirstNews newspaper, by operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in March. This was followed by the abduction of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), on May 1. Ojukwu was held incommunicado at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lagos for ten days before being released, raising serious concerns about the misuse of the Cybercrime Act to stifle critical reporting,” the association recounted.
HURIWA further highlighted the worsening situation by pointing to the recent detention of Adejuwon Soyinka, West African Regional Editor of The Conversation Africa and pioneer editor of the BBC Pidgin Service, by the Department of State Services (DSS) upon his return to Nigeria. Although released after six hours, his passport was confiscated, reflecting the growing trend of security agencies using repressive tactics against journalists.
The association also cited several other instances where journalists have faced persecution, including the arrests of Isaac Bristol (PIDOMNigeria), Kasarahchi Aniagolu of The Whistler Newspaper, Achadu Gabriel of Daybreak Newspaper, Godwin Tsa of The Sun Newspaper, and others. These journalists have been targeted for their investigative work, particularly in exposing corruption and holding government officials accountable.
HURIWA argued that these actions starkly contradict President Tinubu’s recent promises to uphold the rule of law and tolerate dissenting views. The association warned that the administration’s increasing hostility towards the press could derail Nigeria’s democracy, turning it into an autocracy where freedom of speech and the press is severely curtailed.
HURIWA called on the international community to closely monitor the situation in Nigeria and pressure President Tinubu to respect democratic principles, human rights, and press freedom. The association urged global organizations, including the United Nations, the African Union, and international human rights bodies, to intervene to ensure Nigeria does not slide into authoritarianism.
HURIWA also demanded that the Nigerian government grant David Hundeyin and other persecuted journalists a fair hearing and protect their legal rights. The association condemned the ongoing media trial of Bristol Isaac (PIDOMNigeria) by the NPF as biased and intolerable, insisting that the courts, not the police, should independently determine the validity of the charges against him. HURIWA emphasized that any attempt to suppress investigative journalism through intimidation, harassment, or arrest must be vigorously resisted by all Nigerians who value democracy and freedom.
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Finally, HURIWA called on Nigerians to stand up and defend human rights defenders like David Hundeyin, who risk their lives to expose the truth and hold the government accountable. The association stressed that nothing untoward should happen to Hundeyin or any other journalist, warning that the continued persecution of the press will have dire consequences for Nigeria’s democracy.
“The police must immediately cease their campaign of media persecution and respect the constitutional rights of all citizens, including the right to freedom of the press,” HURIWA concluded.
