ONYEKACHI CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF PRESS FREEDOM AND SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS, AS CRUSTLIKE REPORTERS MARK INTERNATIONAL DAY TO END IMPUNITY FOR CRIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS -

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ONYEKACHI CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF PRESS FREEDOM AND SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS, AS CRUSTLIKE REPORTERS MARK INTERNATIONAL DAY TO END IMPUNITY FOR CRIMES AGAINST JOURNALISTS

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‎As media practitioners and freedom of expression advocates across the globe mark the 2026 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, renowned Nigerian journalist and academic researcher, Onyekachi Augustus Nwaozor, Ph.D., alongside his team at Crustlike Reporters, has issued a passionate call to action demanding concrete legal safeguards, institutional accountability, and unyielding protection for journalists operating within Nigeria and across the African continent.

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‎The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 68/163, falls on 2 November every year in memory of Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon two French journalists abducted and murdered in Mali in 2013. Today, thirteen years after that tragedy, Dr. Nwaozor warns that the deadly shadow of impunity continues to loom large over newsrooms, investigative reporters, and media professionals who risk everything to hold power accountable.

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‎Speaking on the significance of the commemoration, Dr. Nwaozor emphasized that an attack on a journalist is not merely an assault on an individual, but a direct strike against the heart of democratic society itself.

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‎”Every time a journalist is silenced, threatened, unlawfully detained, or murdered without justice being served, a piece of truth dies, and public trust erodes,” declared Dr. Nwaozor. “We cannot claim to practice democracy while those who shed light on corruption, human rights abuses, and governance failures are routinely targeted with impunity. UN Resolution 68/163 was not passed to be a diplomatic gesture; it is an urgent mandate for governments to act.”

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‎Dr. Nwaozor noted with deep concern that despite international commitments, state and non-state actors alike continue to exploit legislative loopholes, heavy-handed security apparatuses, and judicial delays to suppress investigative journalism. He stressed that a free press cannot survive in an environment where perpetrators walk free while journalists pay the ultimate price for their truth-seeking.

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‎In alignment with the resolution’s mandate, Dr. Nwaozor and Crustlike Reporters are calling on the Nigerian government and all UN Member States to urgently implement the following measures:

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‎Establish Independent Oversight & Investigative Bodies: Create specialized mechanisms to investigate all reported threats, assaults, and killings of media workers swiftly, thoroughly, and impartially, ensuring perpetrators face the full weight of the law.

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‎Strengthen Legal Protections for Media Freedom: Repeal or amend overly restrictive laws including vague cybercrime regulations that are frequently weaponized to harass, detain, and criminalize journalists for carrying out their legitimate professional duties.

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‎Guarantee Safe Working Environments: Ensure that law enforcement and security agencies actively safeguard journalists during public reporting, elections, protests, and conflict coverage, rather than viewing media personnel as adversaries.

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‎Provide Access to Justice and Victim Remedies: Establish accessible legal remedies and support networks for journalists and the families of media workers who have suffered violence or unlawful persecution.

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‎Dr. Nwaozor urged journalists across Nigeria not to retreat in the face of mounting intimidation, but to remain resolute in upholding professional ethics, analytical rigour, and unwavering integrity.

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‎”Truth remains our greatest weapon and our solemn responsibility,” Dr. Nwaozor added. “As Crustlike Reporters joins the global community today, we honor those who have paid the supreme price for press freedom. Their sacrifices must not be in vain. We will continue to speak truth to power, demand accountability, and insist that those who harm journalists face justice.”

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‎About Dr. Onyekachi Augustus Nwaozor

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‎Onyekachi Augustus Nwaozor, Ph.D., is a seasoned investigative journalist, academic researcher, and media scholar based in Nigeria. His research and commentary focus on development communication, press freedom, media ethics, communication policies, and democratic governance in West Africa.

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‎Media Contact:

‎Crustlike Reporters Media Office.

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‎Email: crustlikereporters@gmail.com

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‎Website: www.crustlikereporters.com

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