Six Nigerian and international media freedom organisations have jointly written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for urgent action to address persistent attacks on journalists and to ensure accountability for perpetrators.
In a letter dated April 1, 2026, the groups urged the President to investigate abuses against the media both before and during his administration, while also pressing for reforms to laws that criminalise journalism.
The signatories include 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 Nigerian chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI).
The letter was prompted by recent remarks credited to Vice President Kashim Shettima, who reportedly suggested that journalists had not faced harassment since the current administration assumed office.
Describing the claim as inaccurate, the organisations expressed concern that such statements downplay “numerous and well-documented attacks on the press,” including arrests, harassment and violence allegedly involving security agencies.
They cited multiple reports indicating a troubling pattern. According to the groups, CPJ has documented cases of journalists being detained without warning and subjected to mistreatment, while others have faced prosecution over defamation and cybercrime allegations linked to their work.
They further noted that during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests, at least 56 journalists were reportedly assaulted or harassed, with security operatives allegedly firing bullets and tear gas in the direction of media personnel.
Additional data from the International Press Centre recorded 65 incidents of attacks on journalists in 2024, ranging from physical assault and intimidation to unlawful detention and threats to life. Media Rights Agenda, in its 2025 report, documented 86 cases of press freedom violations, while CJID said it had verified at least 231 attacks since President Tinubu took office in 2023.
The organisations also raised concerns over long-standing cases of impunity, recalling that since 1992, CPJ has documented the killing of at least 23 journalists in Nigeria, with several others missing and presumed dead.
They highlighted the case of journalist Onifade Emmanuel Pelumi, who died in 2020 after being seen in police custody, noting that his body has yet to be returned to his family despite repeated appeals.
The groups criticised what they described as a lack of meaningful government action to address these issues, warning that upcoming general elections in 2027 could heighten risks for journalists if urgent steps are not taken.
They urged the President to match official claims of support for the media with concrete measures, including holding perpetrators accountable, ending impunity, and ensuring the safety of journalists before, during and after the elections.
The organisations also called for the return of Pelumi’s remains to his family and for comprehensive reforms to safeguard press freedom in Nigeria.
They stressed that protecting journalists is essential to strengthening democratic governance, particularly as the country prepares for another electoral cycle.
