President Muhammadu Buhari says he provides “unfettered freedom” to Nigerian journalists despite various persecutions of journalists under his watch.

Mr Buhari stated this on World Press Freedom Day, marked every May 3 internationally, in a statement issued Tuesday by his media aide Femi Adesina.

This year’s occasion marks 30 years since the UN General Assembly’s decision proclaiming an international day for press freedom.

According to the president, the landmark is a tribute to media professionals who risk their lives to keep society informed and educated.

On this year’s theme, ‘Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights’, Mr Buhari expressed delight that the rights of Nigerian journalists have been protected and upheld in the past eight years.

“We have kept the faith. We have ensured that Nigerian journalists have had unfettered freedom to practice their art, and on this occasion of World Press Freedom Day, we recommit to that resolution, even as we wind down in office,” the president claimed.

Mr Buhari, however, charged media professionals to continue to be patriotic, work for the country’s cohesion, and exercise their freedom with a high deal of responsibility. 

Last July, the Buhari regime continued its assault on Peoples Gazette with the raid of the newspaper’s head office in Abuja, ending with the arrest of one of its editors and four other staff members. John Adenekan, an assistant managing editor, was taken away by five armed police officers who broke into the paper’s office opposite NNPC Quarters in Utako.  

The officers returned to the office to arrest four other staff members, Ameedat Adeyemi, Grace Oke, Sammy Ogbu and Justina Tayani. The officers demanded to see Managing Editor Samuel Ogundipe and reporter Adefemola Akintade. 

They told Mr Adenekan the arrest was over our June 23 story detailing how anti-graft ICPC raided a property belonging to chief of army staff Tukur Buratai and recovered cash and luxury items.

The ICPC confirmed the recovery, and anti-corruption groups demanded a thorough investigation and prosecution of Mr Buratai, who was responsible for the 2020 massacre of Nigerians at Lekki Toll Gate.

(NAN)