HURIWA raises alarm over alleged detention of Journalist, defends press freedom

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has condemned the alleged abduction, incommunicado detention and continued harassment of SecretsReporters journalist, Stanley Ugagbe, describing the development as a serious threat to press freedom and democratic governance in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the rights group also expressed concern over the reported invitation extended to Fejiro Oliver by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre over allegations of espionage and computer-related offences allegedly linked to investigative reports published by SecretsReporters.

HURIWA said that if the reports are accurate, they represent “a dangerous descent into the criminalisation of investigative journalism” and an assault on constitutionally guaranteed press freedom.

The organisation rejected any attempt to portray investigative journalists as spies simply because they publish reports on matters of public interest.

According to HURIWA, branding journalists as agents of espionage for exposing alleged corruption, abuse of office or official misconduct is unconstitutional and capable of creating a chilling effect on investigative reporting.

The group cited Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, which assigns the media the responsibility of holding government accountable to the people, arguing that journalists are constitutionally recognised as watchdogs of democracy rather than enemies of the state.

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HURIWA maintained that investigative journalism should not be equated with espionage, stressing that where any publication is considered false or defamatory, the law provides established civil and criminal procedures for seeking redress through the courts.

The organisation further expressed concern over reports that Ugagbe was allegedly intercepted by armed men in plain clothes, handcuffed, blindfolded and taken to his residence, where his work tools were reportedly confiscated before he was held without immediate public acknowledgment by authorities.

It said such allegations, if proven, would amount to violations of the journalist’s constitutional rights to liberty, dignity and fair hearing.

HURIWA also criticised what it described as the silence surrounding the journalist’s whereabouts in the days following the reported arrest, saying it heightened public anxiety and raised concerns about transparency and accountability.

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The rights group further expressed alarm over reports that Oliver was allegedly accused of espionage and leaking government information to foreign governments because of investigative stories published by his media organisation.

According to HURIWA, such allegations, if based solely on legitimate journalistic activities, could set a dangerous precedent capable of intimidating journalists and discouraging investigative reporting across the country.

The organisation argued that governments committed to democratic principles should respond to investigative reports through lawful processes and factual rebuttals rather than intimidation or arbitrary arrests.

HURIWA called for the immediate protection of Ugagbe’s constitutional rights, including due process and unrestricted access to his family and legal representatives.

The organisation also demanded a transparent explanation from the Nigeria Police Force regarding the circumstances surrounding the journalist’s reported arrest and detention.

It further urged authorities to withdraw any actions that seek to classify investigative journalism as espionage where there is no credible evidence beyond the lawful publication of matters of public interest.

The group also called for an end to what it described as the increasing use of security agencies and cybercrime laws to intimidate journalists and suppress investigative reporting.

Reaffirming its position, HURIWA urged the government to respect the constitutional role of the media under Section 22 of the Constitution, warning that Nigeria’s democratic credentials would be undermined if journalists were treated as criminals for carrying out their professional duties.

The organisation stated that it would continue to support journalists engaged in lawful investigative reporting, insisting that the real threats to the Nigerian state are corruption, abuse of power, impunity and official secrecy—not a free and independent press.