Agba Jalingo: Cybercrime Act Now Weapon Against Journalists, Not Criminals.

Journalist and activist Agba Jalingo has condemned the increasing misuse of Nigeria's Cybercrime Act to intimidate the press and silence critics, warning that the law is being weaponized against journalists instead of criminalss.

A Law Used as a Weapon

Speaking on ARISE NEWS, Jalingo, alongside fellow media personality Azuka Ogujiuba and retired Commissioner of Police Lawrence Alobi, accused security agencies of using Section 24 of the Cybercrime Act to suppress dissent.

"This is a big pattern with the police these days, and it's growing worse," Jalingo said, highlighting a troubling trend. "Last year alone, 751 people were arrested in connection with cybercrime allegations. That is the highest number we have seen. I don't think we even saw that under the military."

Jalingo described his own ordeal, recounting how he was abducted, tortured, and jailed for six months over investigative reports. "They kept me in the boot of a Toyota Highlander for 26 hours... I was detained for 43 days, then dumped in prison for six months, charged with treason and terrorism. Later, I was acquitted," he said.

A Journalist's Ordeal

Media entrepreneur Azuka Ogujiuba corroborated this pattern with her own recent experience. She was arrested and accused of cyberbullying after her platform, Media Room Hub, published a court-authorized statement on a land dispute. Despite verifying the document's authenticity and noting that more than 10 other reputable media houses—including ThisDay, Guardian, and The Nation—had published the same court order, she was aggressively pursued by police.

Azuka detailed how police tracked her, stormed an event she was covering, and seized her phone, alleging they were trying to intimidate her into silence.

The Police’s Acknowledgment

Retired Commissioner of Police Lawrence Alobi admitted that some officers do abuse their authority, but insisted that such actions do not represent the entire police force. He noted that "unscrupulous individuals and politicians" can influence police actions and called for greater accountability and reforms.

Jalingo, however, emphasized the urgency of the situation. "We cannot criminalize the right to speak or to write. We should stop it," he said. The combined testimonies of Jalingo and Azuka, along with Alobi's admission of abuses, highlight a growing crisis where police intimidation and unlawful arrests threaten Nigeria’s democratic values.