The International Press Centre (IPC) has revealed that no fewer than 65 Nigerian journalists and two media organisations suffered various forms of attack between January and September 2024. 

This was contained in a new report by the IPC’s Safety and Protection of Journalists Hub (SPJ-Hub), released to reporters in Akure, on Saturday. 

The report, marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, stated that 40 incidents of attacks on Nigerian journalists were also documented within the period under review.

The attacks ranged from harassment, intimidation, and unlawful detention to physical assaults, while some cases involving gunshots and life threats.

It said Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Ogun, FCT Abuja, Oyo, Katsina, Abia, Delta, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Borno, Sokoto, and Kwara as states that top the incidents of the attack. 

In terms of gender, 36 of the affected journalists were men, while five were women. Notably, a significant number of cases did not specify gender, indicating a potentially higher impact.

IPC also listed the nature of the attack to include unlawful and prolonged detention, robbery attack; harassment; intimidation, physical assault, gunshot, confiscation of work equipment; vandalism, abduction and murder. 

Security operatives accounted for 25 incidents on the journalists, while others include armed robbers, armed hoodlums, thugs, bandits, and armed youths carried out the major attacks. 

The report categorised the attacks by media sectors, recording 10 incidents in print media, 15 in broadcast media, 23 in online media, and 17 incidents on others.

Condemning the attacks, IPC’s press freedom officer, Melody Akinjiyan, said the reports aim to highlight the heightened risks facing media professionals in the country. 

Ms Akinjiyan, however, called for an end to impunity for crimes against journalists in Nigeria, stressing that the country should not “turn blind eye” to attack against media practitioners in the country.  

“We attach the highest priority to the safety of journalists and other media actors. We oppose any action, legislation, regulation, or political pressure that limits freedom of the press.

“Acts of intimidation and violence against journalists in Nigeria have to end for democracy to survive. Attacks against media institutions and journalists are attacks against democratic rights, including the right of the public to know the truth about the way they are governed. 

“We call on the Presidency to mandate security operatives to carry out the necessary investigations on unresolved cases of attacks on journalists while we also urge the Inspector General of Police to publicly disclose what has so far been done towards unravelling the mystery behind killed journalists in Nigeria,” she said. 

While speaking on the recommendations of the research unit, the IPC said, “full details of the analysis of the documented attacks reveal that the actions taken by SPJ-Hub have been mostly statements of condemnation and request for investigation to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.”

It, however, explained that the group has also produced documentaries that have enabled victims of the immediate past period to provide greater detail about what they went through, most especially the psycho-social effects on them and their close ones.

“IPC is glad that, arising from the efforts so far, media stakeholders are now working on institutional and legislative frameworks that will expand the frontiers of press freedom.

“We consider this a welcome development and hope that the efforts yield fruits sooner than later.

“Under the SPJ-Hub, we shall also intensify our capacity building for journalists on safety in reporting especially in relation to investigative journalism, conflicts and elections.” 

It added, “It would be recalled that with regards to safety in election reporting, we have already produced some guidelines that can be accessed through the downloadable app -IPC Media & Elections.

“As we continue to make efforts with other interest groups, our message to our governments is that they have a constitutional obligation to guarantee press freedom and ensure the safety of journalists.

“We shall not relent in making them realise that a free press makes democracy meaningful.”