The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the management of Jay 101.9 FM, Jos, have reacted to the detention and release of two journalists by the Department of State Services (DSS), describing the incident as a test of Nigeria’s commitment to press freedom and the rule of law.
The journalists, Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang, were arrested in Jos while covering the funeral of the late mother of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe.
Their detention, which drew widespread concern among media professionals, followed the posting of a video on social media showing a confrontation between a cleric and security operatives at the event.
In a statement issued by its National President, Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, the NUJ commended the Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, for his decisive intervention in ordering the journalists’ release and for personally reaching out to the Union to convey his apology and commitment to uphold press freedom.
According to the statement, “We are encouraged by the decisive intervention of the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, who ordered their immediate release, personally reached out to the NUJ to convey his apologies, and reiterated his directive to DSS operatives to conduct thorough investigations before making arrests.”
“This gesture reflects a positive and commendable shift in the culture of our security institutions. The willingness of the DSS leadership to admit errors, apologise where necessary, and commit to reforms is an important step in strengthening public trust and confidence in the agency.”
The NUJ urged the DSS to sustain the new approach by institutionalising accountability and sanctioning officers whose actions undermine democratic values and citizens’ rights.
“Press freedom is the bedrock of democracy, and journalists must never be treated as adversaries for performing their constitutional duties,” Abdullahi stated.
“While we commend this positive development, we call on the DSS and all security agencies to institutionalise accountability by sanctioning officers whose actions undermine democratic values and constitutional rights.”
In a related development, the management of Jay 101.9 FM, Jos, acknowledged the release of its staff but maintained a strong position on accountability, warning that the actions of the DSS amounted to a serious violation of fundamental rights and democratic principles.
In a statement signed by the Managing Director, Clinton Garuba, the station described the arrest of its staff as arbitrary, illegal, and unacceptable, insisting that journalists must be allowed to carry out their duties without intimidation.
“This event has once again prompted us to draw attention to the disturbing issues of press freedom violations, human rights abuses, and the erosion of the rule of law by security agencies,” Jay FM said.
“Our staff did what journalists are trained and ethically mandated to do — they documented an incident on video for public record and accountability.”
“The actions of the DSS in abducting and detaining them are illegal, undemocratic, and unacceptable. They represent a blatant violation of the fundamental rights to freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and personal liberty as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and various international conventions to which our nation is a signatory.”
Garuba reaffirmed Jay FM’s commitment to truth and professionalism, stressing that journalism remains a public service and not an adversarial act against the state.
“The press is not an enemy of the state. Journalism is a public service profession. Our duty is to inform, educate, and hold power accountable, not to serve as mouthpieces of authority. To criminalise this duty is to criminalise truth itself,” he said.
Jay FM further called for restraint and respect for democratic norms by security agencies, warning that intimidation of journalists fosters fear and undermines the very fabric of democracy.
