The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), have condemned the abuse of the Cybercrime Act (Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act by law enforcement agents, particularly the police against media practitioners.
The Standing Committee of the elite professional body of Managing Directors, Directors of News and Editors in print, broadcast, news agency and online organization in Nigeria made this known in a communique issued at end of robust deliberations on critical issues affecting the media, governance and the society held on September 17, 2025 in Jos, Plateau State.
108scoop.com reports that the communique jointly signed by Eze Anaba – President and Onuoha Ukeh -General Secretary, said that law enforcement agents harass, intimidate, arrest and illegally detain journalists who are exercising their rights to freedom of the press and thereby undermining democracy and the rule of law.
The Guild said it will no longer tolerate the abuse and will use all legal means to ensure the protection of the fundamental human rights of journalists, freedom of the press and freedom of expression.
It called for a thorough review of the Cybercrime Act and its use for the original intention, which is to fight cybercrime in relation to financial fraud, identity theft and attacks on computer systems, among others.
The Editors reminded security agencies that the Ombudsman process instituted by the Nigerian Press Organisation is capable of addressing infractions of the Code of Journalism Ethics, as has been proven in the past.
According to the Editors, security agencies should respect this process by encouraging those who write petitions and making them the arbiter to approach the Ombudsman or seek legal redress instead of making security agencies a tool of oppression, intimidation and harassment.
The group also called on journalists to do their job with a high level of professionalism by adhering to the Code of Ethics approved by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) and not to engage in any form of blackmail and defamation whatsoever.
The Guild, however, expresses concerns about the increasing excesses of political actors, both in government and the opposition, and calls on them to address national issues and governance instead of personal attacks and name-calling.
“The conduct of politicians is worrisome, whether in government or the opposition. They should desist from personal attacks and name-calling.
“They should address issues of governance and proffer solutions. Careless talks heat the polity, incite people, instigate crisis and are capable of causing breach of peace and security of the nation. This should stop forthwith,’’ NGE said.
It reminds the three tiers of government – federal, state and local governments – that the main purpose of governance is to address fundamental issues bordering on citizens’ socio-economic wellbeing and security, urging them to focus on governance and stop talking about future elections when they have not fulfilled their Social Contract in the subsisting term of office.
The Guild urges the federal government and the security agencies to be more proactive and effective in tackling banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, herder-farmer clashes and other vices, for the purposes of saving lives, boosting food security and creating a more conducive environment for Nigerian citizens wherever they live.
It, therefore, appreciated the Plateau State governor, Caleb Muftwang, for playing host to editors and for striving to better the lives of the people and ensure a cordial relationship among all ethnic groups in the state.
