Two media organisations and 65 Nigerian journalists were attacked over a nine-month period, the International Press Centre (IPC) has reported.
In a report published on Saturday by the IPC’s Safety and Protection of Journalists Hub (SPJ-Hub), it was revealed that the attacks occurred between January and September 2024.
“No fewer than forty (40) cases of attacks involving over sixty-five (65) journalists and two (2) media outlets were recorded and documented as follows: Male – thirty-six (36), Female – five (5), Not specified – (24),” the report stated.
The affected states include Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Ogun, FCT Abuja, Oyo, Katsina, Abia, Delta, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Borno, Sokoto, and Kwara.
The report highlighted the nature of the attacks, which included: “Unlawful and prolonged detention; robbery; harassment; intimidation; physical assault; gunshots; confiscation of work equipment; vandalism; abduction; murder; threats to life; invasion and restrictions on live coverage.”
According to IPC’s Press Freedom Officer, Melody Akinjiyan, stakeholders are working on frameworks to advance press freedom.
“IPC is pleased that, as a result of recent efforts, media stakeholders are now collaborating on institutional and legislative frameworks to broaden the scope of press freedom,” he stated.
“This is a welcome development, and we hope these efforts will bear fruit sooner rather than later.”
“As we continue to work with other interest groups, our message to the government is clear: they have a constitutional duty to uphold press freedom and ensure journalists’ safety. We remain committed to emphasising that a free press is essential for a meaningful democracy,” the IPC added.