In commemoration of the 2026 World Press Freedom Day, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have intensified their advocacy for human rights and media protection amid rising insecurity in the country.
They spoke at a news conference and interactive session, titled: “The Role of the Media in Promoting People’s Rights, Accountability, and Access to Justice in the Context of Growing Insecurity in Nigeria.”
The conference on Saturday in Lagos was jointly organised by SERAP and NGE to mark the 2026 World Press Freedom Day.
The event underscored the critical role of the press in advancing human rights, including people’s rights to safety and security, ensuring accountability for perpetrators, and improving access to justice and effective remedies for victims.
It also highlighted the importance of victim-centred reporting, ethical storytelling, and the general role of the media in amplifying victims’ voices and promoting accountability and justice.
The Deputy Director of SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, read a joint statement calling on the authorities to protect journalists and address insecurity.
Oluwadare said: “Protecting journalists and safeguarding information integrity are central drivers of peace, security and democratic stability.
“Any credible peace recovery or security strategy must integrate information integrity and support for free, independent and realistic media alongside humanitarian, institutional and economic responses.”
Oluwadare warned that insecurity continues to erode fundamental rights and public trust.
He said, “Insecurity itself is a breach of human rights. And it’s also an enabler of the continued breach of human rights. And how can we even talk about the right to life? The right to freedom of expression? When even the very life we have is threatened daily.”
He added that delays in responding to Freedom of Information requests undermine transparency.
The SERAP official also raised concerns about growing attacks and displacement across parts of the country.
He said: “We are seriously concerned about the scale of persistence of the killings, the abductions, the sexual violence, forced displacements and destruction of property, and the deepening governance and anonymity crisis.”
Oluwadare stressed that addressing insecurity requires accountability and institutional reform.
He said: “Addressing insecurity in Nigeria requires more than a reactive response. It demands a sustained commitment to accountability, to transparency, and human rights.
“It requires embedding these principles into governance and security frameworks.”
The Assistant General Secretary of the NGE, Gabriel Akinadewo, outlined recommendations of the groups to the government.
Akindewo said authorities must be able to “guarantee freedom of the press and freedom of expression as provided in the 1999 constitution as amended.
“Protect civil speech and journalists, as well as promote victim-centred ethical media reporting.
“Take immediate and systemic actions, including by preventing intelligence-led and community-based security measures in high-risk areas.
“Publicly acknowledge that widespread killings, abductions, and destruction of property constitute violations of the rights to life, dignity, security, and property, and cannot be justified under any circumstances.
“Ensure prompt, thorough, independent, impartial, transparent, and effective investigations into all reported grave human rights violations and abuses.
“Identify and prosecute perpetrators and their sponsors, including those who may have aided, enabled, or failed to prevent the violations, despite prior knowledge of risk, and respond to networks responsible for attacks.
“Ensure access to justice and effective remedies to victims and their families, including adequate monetary compensation, restitution, rehabilitation, and guarantees of known reputation and social support.
“Improve transparency around security operations and accountability processes.
“Fully implement constitutional and international human rights obligations.
“Develop and implement a robust legal and institutional framework to prevent future violations, including early warning systems and protection for at-risk communities.
“Create a public registry or reporting system documenting incidents, responses, and accountability measures to strengthen oversight and citizen trust.
“Direct all relevant agencies to respect, protect, promote, and fulfill human rights in line with Nigeria’s domestic and international legal commitments.
“We further urge the Governor-General’s Administration and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to extend formal invitations to relevant mandate holders of the United Nations Human Rights Council, particularly special rapporteurs with relevant mandates, and to the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights special rapporteurs to undertake fact-finding visits to Nigeria.
