Cybercrime law now a weapon against journalists, not criminals – Jalingo

Prominent journalist and rights activist, Agba Jalingo, has accused Nigerian authorities of using the Cybercrime Act as a tool of oppression against journalists and critics rather than targeting actual cybercriminals.

Speaking in Abuja on Saturday, Jalingo said the law, especially Section 24, has become the government’s preferred weapon for clamping down on free speech.

“The Cybercrime Act was enacted mainly to deal with journalists and dissenters on social media. Section 24 is what they are using to run after us everywhere,” he stated.

Jalingo disclosed that under the current Inspector General of Police, more than 751 persons were arrested last year alone under cybercrime allegations — the highest figure since the return of democracy, and even more than under military rule.

The journalist recalled his own harrowing ordeal, narrating how he was abducted, tortured, and detained. He spent 26 hours locked in the boot of a Toyota Highlander from Lagos to Calabar, where he lost control of his bodily functions. He was later jailed for six months, spending 43 days in detention before being arraigned on charges of treason and terrorism. All the charges were eventually dropped, and he was acquitted.

Jalingo called on civil society and media organisations to intensify advocacy for the repeal of the law, stressing that its misuse undermines democracy and citizens’ rights.

Also sharing her experience, Azuka Ogujiuba, founder of Media Room Hub, recounted how she was arrested in Abuja after publishing a court judgment on a land dispute — a story already reported by major newspapers and television stations.

Despite following due process, she was accused of “cyberbullying,” summoned by police, trailed, and manhandled before having her phone seized. She described the ordeal as humiliating and a clear case of abuse of power.

Offering a broader perspective, Lawrence Alobi, a retired Commissioner of Police, admitted that while some officers misuse their authority either out of ignorance or overzealousness, there are still many who discharge their duties professionally. He, however, warned that politicians and vested interests often manipulate the police, calling for urgent reforms, stronger oversight, and protection of citizens’ fundamental freedoms.

The experiences of Jalingo and Ogujiuba, reinforced by Alobi’s observations, underline growing fears that the Cybercrime Act is increasingly being weaponized to stifle dissent and weaken Nigeria’s fragile press freedom.