Six Nigerian and international media freedom organisations have jointly written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to hold accountable those responsible for abuses against journalists and to reform laws to prevent the criminalisation of journalism.
The letter was signed by Angela Quintal of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ); Busola Ajibola of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID); Churchill Otieno of The Africa Editors Forum (TAEF); Edetaen Ojo of Media Rights Agenda (MRA); Lanre Arogundade of the International Press Centre (IPC); and Musikilu Mojeed of the International Press Institute (IPI).
The correspondence followed remarks by Vice President Kashim Shettima, suggesting that journalists have not faced harassment since the Tinubu administration assumed office.
The groups described the claim as inaccurate, citing “numerous and well-documented attacks,” including arrests and violence by security forces.
They referenced a State House statement quoting Shettima as asking whether any journalist had been harassed in the past three years and praising the administration’s “high tolerance threshold.”
However, the organisations argued that evidence contradicts this narrative.
According to them, CPJ has documented cases of journalists being detained and mistreated since 2023, while others have been prosecuted on defamation and cybercrime charges.
During the 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests, at least 56 journalists were reportedly assaulted or harassed, with security forces allegedly firing bullets and tear gas toward some.
Data from IPC recorded 65 attacks in 2024, while MRA documented 86 incidents in 2025. CJID said it has verified at least 231 press freedom violations since Tinubu took office, while IPI Nigeria noted a pattern of impunity.
The groups also cited historical cases, including the death of journalist Onifade Emmanuel Pelumi in 2020, whose body has yet to be returned to his family.
The organisations said, “We have not seen meaningful efforts to end impunity when journalists are targeted, and your government even sought to appeal a court judgment ordering government action to improve press freedom and the investigation of attacks against the press.”
They called on the President to ensure accountability, protect journalists ahead of the 2027 elections, and safeguard democratic freedoms.