President Tinubu Government Cracks Down On Nigerian Media, Withdraws Accreditation Of 25 Journalists Covering Presidential Villa

In what appears to be a massive crackdown on the Nigerian media, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the security to withdraw the accreditations of 25 journalists covering the Presidential Villa.

SaharaReporters gathered that the journalists were shocked when the security operatives stationed at the main gate on Friday, August 18, told them to submit their accreditation tags.

The security operatives did not give any reason or explanation for the withdrawal of the tags.

The journalists have expressed concerns over what might have warranted the action which has raised significant concerns about press freedom.

The affected journalists cut across reporters, cameramen and photojournalists from broadcast, print and online media organizations such as PromptNews, ONTV, ITV Abuja, Liberty, Vanguard, Galaxy TV, Ben TV, MITV and many others.

The affected media houses have been asked to source for video clips and other news materials from their colleagues.

Meanwhile those media organisations, which were not affected by the crackdown, appear to be silent on reporting the matter which is aimed at undermining and frustrating press freedom.

Some of the journalists described the action of the Tinubu-led government as absurd, unacceptable and an attempt to stifle and shrink media space.

They therefore called on civil society organisations to rise up against media repression and oppression.
They added that free press is not a prerogative of any arm of government and the media is a cornerstone of any democratic society.