Written and compiled by a Nigerian student activist

In an unjust society, silence and an indifference mute are to be regarded as a criminal offence with respect to the lack of press freedom in Nigeria and the gross violation of the fundamental human rights of every Nigerian. When shall this bleeding stop? According to the article 19, Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 which says "Everyone has the right to freedom of option and expression. This right includes freedom to hold opinion without interference and to seek to receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

Last year, during the illegal "trial" of the assumed coup suspects, some notable Nigerian journalists were also tried and unlawfully convicted and later sentenced to some specified jail terms. Their crime according to the Nigerian Military junta was that their local newspapers carried various EDITORIALS with respect to the "framed-up" coup plot.

Among the journalists sentenced are as follows:

1. Mr. Chris Anyanwu, Publisher, TSM News Magazine
2. Mr. Olu Akerele, Abuja Concord Newspaper Bureau Chief and two other staffers
3. Mr. Kunle Ajibade, Editor, The News Magazine
4. Mr. Ben-Charles Obi, Editor Weekend Classique
5. Mr. George Mbah, Assistant Editor, Tell Magazine

Meanwhile, barely less than 48 hours to the last year christmas celebration. The Editor-in-Chief of Tell Magazine in Nigeria - Mr. NOSA IGIEBOR was illegally arrested and detained without any proper court trials.

Yet, Nosa was not accused of any criminal charges till date. What an arbitrary mis-use of power! He is a prisoner of conscience criminally detained because of his radical ideological views and the respect for the rule of law. Nosa and other detained Nigerian journalists must be given an access to members of their family, friends, lawyers and medical doctors. According to our only Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka (who is currently in self-exile abroad!) who said "The man dies in all who keeps silent in the face of tyranny."

Mr Nosa Igiebor was released June 24th

On the 19th of October 1986, the Editor-in-Chief of the NEWSWATCH Magazine - MR. DELE GIWA was killed through a letter-bomb for attempting to publish articles which were "unpleasant" to the Military government. Where is the Press Freedom in NIGERIA?

Worst still, on the 4th of June 1996, Mrs Kudirat M.K.O. Abiola (who was the wife of the detained winner of the June 12th, 1993 Presidential Election - chief Bashorun Moshood Abiola) was also brutally assassinated by unknown assailants. May be because of her recent political utterances following her release from detention few weeks ago where Kudirat along with others were charged for SEDITION by the Nigerian Military rulers. When shall this "man-made" bleeding stop? Well, if our freedom and liberties are being encroached upon by those we have submittd them to, we have to rebel because it is better to rebel than to submit to a bad government.

Recently in Nigeria, the prison of the detained frontline human rights activist ad radical lawyer Chief Gani Oyesola Fawehinmi in Bauchi state of Nigeria was also attacked by unknown hoodlums who killed some undisclosed number of prisoners, set some inmates free and injured others. Chief Gani Fawehinmi was also brutally wounded. Who is behind all these attacks?

Chief Gani Fawehinmi was released December 1996

Finally, we are all extra-careful and always at alert in NIGERIA because nobody is adequately secured again. Save our souls!