Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has narrated how she was nearly raped while carrying out her duties as an investigative journalist.
Addressing newsmen after receiving her award at the maiden edition of the National Freedom of Information (FOI) Awards organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA)in Abuja, the former lawmaker told journalists in Nigeria to brace the odds and undertake investigative journalism.
She added that, but for the timely intervention of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, she would have been raped.
Abike called on practitioners not to be afraid of venturing into the arena of investigative journalism and noted that the challenge is how well the Freedom of Information has been used by Nigerians.
According to her, “Dare to venture, dare to succeed. I was arrested at a point I was doing investigative journalism, locked up in Apapa in one of the military facilities there.
“What saved me from being raped was Major Hamza Al-Mustapha who happened to come in at that point. So you cannot afford to be afraid.”
She added that there was need to have all journalists insured and protected to enable them undertake the job effectively.
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