A NEW report by the International Press Centre’s Safety and Protection of Journalists ((IPC-SPJ) Hub has documented a troubling increase in assaults on journalists in Nigeria, with 45 reported cases affecting 70 journalists and three media outlets in 2024.
Released to mark the 2025 World Press Freedom Day under the theme: “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Press Freedom and the Media,” the findings highlight urgent concerns over journalist safety in the country.
The report, issued by the Safety and Protection arm of the International Press Centre (IPC) in Lagos, reveals that male journalists constituted the majority of victims (40), while five were female. The genders of 25 other journalists were unspecified.
Security operatives were identified as the most frequent perpetrators, responsible for 28 incidents. Other attackers included unknown gunmen, hoodlums, armed robbers, and private security personnel.
Disturbingly, over 50% of the attacks were linked to duty bearers, particularly security personnel, raising serious press freedom concerns.
The report detailed that broadcast media faced 18 attacks, online media 25, and print media 10, with 17 cases lacking media-type specifications.
Journalists in Nigeria continue to endure unlawful arrests, abductions, physical assaults, threats, and even murder.
To combat these risks, the IPC-SPJ Hub recommends inter-agency collaboration, safety training on AI tools and conflict-sensitive reporting, psycho-social support, and legal aid for affected journalists.
Additionally, the report advocates for stronger media advocacy bodies, engagement with security agencies, and dialogues with media executives on safety equipment and emergency funding. It also stresses the need for international partnerships to bolster journalist protections.
The findings underscore the critical need for a multi-faceted approach to safeguarding press freedom in Nigeria amid escalating threats. (NAN)
