National Human Rights Commission describes Journalists, oxygen of democracy, agents of change, development on world Press day.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday described journalists as the oxygen of democracy, agents of change and development.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu, SAN, said this in a statement in Abuja in celebration of the World Press Freedom Day which has been commemorated since May 3, 1993 with the theme Journalism under digital siege.

Ojukwu said that the press is a critical agent for the protection of democracy and development, and must be supported despite different forms of censorship, harassment, intimidation and in some cases, assassinations as to enable them to effectively discharge their constitutional duties as the watchdog of the society.

Ojukwu also said it was a time to pay tribute to journalists who are either human rights defenders in custody or captivity or have lost their lives in the line of duty.

He urged the law enforcement agencies, as a matter of necessity, intensify their investigations to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death Tordue Salem in Abuja, in 2021, among others.

Seun Fakorede