The Director General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Audrey Azoulay, has condemned the killing of a journalist and publisher, Maxwell Nashan, while calling for an immediate investigative enquiry into the murder.
Nashan, was a publisher of a Lagos based Newspaper, The Advocate Weekly, before his demise.
He also worked as a newscaster with the government-owned Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
The DG also urged the government to unravel the motive behind the attack and determine if there is a link to his professional career as a journalist.
Nashan was reportedly abducted and was later found in Badarisa, Adamawa State by local farmers where he was gagged, bound and severely injured.
The journalist thereafter died in the hospital later that day, according to reports.
The deceased was reported to have received several threats to his life before the abduction.
Suleiman Nguroje, an Adamawa State police public relations officer, said that when they retrieved the journalist’s cell phone they found a message from Nashan saying that his life had been threatened.
However, reacting to the news of Nashan’s death, the Director-General said, “I condemn the murder of Maxwell Nashan. I am calling on the authorities to investigate this crime.
“And for the interest of justice, the government must ensure that attacks on journalists must not be swept under the rug but brought to face trial, in the interest of press freedom, the fundamental human right of freedom of expression, and rule of law,” he said.
UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness, capacity building and a range of actions, notably in the framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
Journalists, who are meant to be the watchdog for the people, are frequently targeted for maim in Nigeria, especially because of their ability to uncover hidden agendas of those in authority or critics made against the government.
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