World Press Freedom Day: NANS Kaduna Demands Swift Rescue Of Abu Hanifa Dadiyata And Unconditional Release Of Other Dissenting Voices

We find it pertinent to join pressmen across the world to celebrate Press Freedom Day at this critical moment of our life, when the world is battling with the scourge of Covid-19.

No doubt, the press remain the fourth invincible arm of government in every democratic clime, dismayingly the universal declaration of human right 1948 which empowers freedom of press is been threatened by government across the world, most especially the third world nations, which Nigeria is not an exception.

Since the inception of the fourth republic, there are numerous attack on pressmen and press freedom, ranging from incessant arrest of journalists, unjustified clamp down on media houses, assault on pressmen among others, this attack has further escalated such that dissenting voices are not excluded.

It is worrisome that for over 8 months Abu Hanifa Dadiyata, a media activist and a dissent was abducted at his residence here in Kaduna and taken to an undisclosed location, ever since then, his family have been in a state of disarray, we wish to use the sanctity of today to demand a rigorous and swift rescue of Dadiyata and unconditional release of other dissenting voices like Lawal Izala of Katsina.

To pedlars of fake news and hate speeches, it is good to note that, the unholy fabricated lies and hates you are peddling are not and can never be part of free speech.

Conclusively, we salute the bravery of journalists who are at the forefront of giving accurate reportage on ills and scourge of Covid-19.

Umar Farouk Gazali.

Chairman, NANS Kaduna Axis.