Security agencies, including the police, military, and intelligence services, have become the primary perpetrators of attacks on journalists in Nigeria, according to the 2024 annual state of media freedom report released by Media Rights Agenda (MRA).
The report, titled “Media Freedom Under Threat: The State of Media Freedom and Journalists’ Safety in Nigeria 2024″, reveals the growing dangers faced by the media in the country and the worsening trend of violence against journalists.
The MRA report tracks a disturbing escalation in attacks on journalists over the past three years. In 2022, MRA recorded 64 attacks, with law enforcement and security agencies responsible for 29 of them, accounting for approximately 45% of the total. This figure slightly increased in 2023, with 77 attacks and security agencies responsible for 34, or 44%. However, the situation took a more alarming turn in 2024, with security agencies responsible for 45 out of 69 recorded attacks on journalists, or around 65%, between January 1 and October 31, 2024.
MRA’s Programme Officer, Mr. John Gbadamosi, expressed grave concern over the role of security forces in these attacks. He stated, “It is ironic that the institutions tasked with upholding the rule of law as well as ensuring the safety and security of citizens, including journalists, have instead become the instruments of oppression against the media.”
He also pointed out the dangerous culture of impunity that has allowed these incidents to persist without accountability, making the situation increasingly dire for journalists.
The report provides detailed documentation of the various forms of attacks journalists faced in 2024, including 21 cases of assault and battery, 17 arbitrary arrests and detentions, and three raids on journalists’ homes or offices.
Other serious incidents included eight threats to life, two cases of harassment, six abductions, and one journalist who was killed. The report also highlights attacks by other groups, such as government officials, courts, thugs, hoodlums, and unidentified individuals.
Despite the grim outlook, MRA noted some positive developments in the media landscape. For example, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) refrained from imposing fines on broadcast stations in 2024, a departure from previous years when such fines were a significant threat to media freedom. This change was attributed to court rulings secured by MRA in 2023 and 2024, which prohibited NBC from imposing such fines. Mr. Gbadamosi commended the NBC for adhering to the court’s orders.
Another encouraging development was the opening of a court-mandated inquiry into the death of journalist Pelumi Onifade, a reporter with Gboah TV who was arrested by police during the 2020 #EndSARS protests and later found dead under suspicious circumstances.
MRA’s involvement in filing a wrongful death suit led to a Federal High Court ruling directing an investigation into Onifade’s death, which Mr. Gbadamosi described as a significant step toward justice for journalists.
Despite these positive steps, Mr. Gbadamosi warned that the overall safety of journalists in Nigeria remains precarious. “It is imperative that urgent measures are taken to protect journalists and hold perpetrators of attacks against them accountable,” he said.
He called for reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s legal framework to better protect media workers and ensure that all attacks on journalists are thoroughly investigated, with those responsible held to account.
Mr. Gbadamosi stressed that without significant changes to safeguard media freedom, the cycle of violence and impunity will continue, further undermining Nigeria’s democracy and the public’s right to access information. “If action is not taken, the situation will worsen, further endangering the media’s role as a cornerstone of democracy in Nigeria,” he concluded.