The International Press Centre (IPC) has revealed that 65 journalists and two media organizations in Nigeria experienced various forms of attack between January and September 2024.
This finding was disclosed in a report released by IPC’s Safety and Protection of Journalists Hub (SPJ-Hub) on Saturday in Akure, as part of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
The report recorded a total of 40 incidents of assault on journalists, ranging from harassment and intimidation to physical violence, unlawful detention, and, in some cases, gun threats. Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Ogun, Abuja, Oyo, Katsina, Abia, Delta, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Borno, Sokoto, and Kwara states were identified as hotspots for these attacks.
In terms of gender, 36 of the journalists affected were men and five were women, although many cases did not specify gender, hinting at a potentially broader impact.
The IPC report highlighted the types of assault faced by media personnel, including unlawful and prolonged detention, physical attacks, gun threats, equipment confiscation, vandalism, robbery, abduction, and murder.
It revealed that security operatives were responsible for 25 of these incidents, while other attackers included armed robbers, thugs, and bandits.
Breaking down the attacks by media sector, the IPC reported 10 incidents affecting print media, 15 targeting broadcast media, 23 impacting online media, and 17 involving other media formats.
Condemning the rising hostility against journalists, IPC’s press freedom officer, Melody Akinjiyan, stressed the need to protect press freedom and urged for an end to impunity for crimes against journalists.
“Acts of intimidation and violence against journalists in Nigeria have to end for democracy to survive,” she said.
“We call on the Presidency to mandate security operatives to investigate unresolved cases and urge the Inspector General of Police to disclose progress on inquiries into the murders of journalists.”
The IPC’s SPJ-Hub research unit called for action beyond condemnation, noting that it has produced documentaries to give victims a voice, sharing the psychological toll these experiences have taken on them and their families.
“We are pleased that media stakeholders are now actively pursuing institutional and legislative frameworks to bolster press freedom,” the IPC said, adding that it views this as a positive step.
The organization also underscored its commitment to enhancing journalist safety, particularly in investigative reporting, conflict zones, and election coverage. It highlighted its guidelines on election safety, accessible via the IPC Media & Elections app.
In closing, IPC reminded the government of its constitutional duty to ensure press freedom and the safety of journalists, emphasizing that a free press is essential to democracy.
“We shall not relent in holding our leaders accountable to uphold press freedom,” the statement read.
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