In just the first year of Tinubu’s administration, press freedom has come under even greater pressure, with at least 13 journalists arrested, attacked, or assaulted, and this number shows no signs of stopping.
This follows a period under Buhari where the media documented over 300 assaults and tragically lost eight journalists.
Tinubu’s past involvement in pro-democracy movements raises concerns. Ironically, he was part of groups that fought for civilian rule in 1999. However, recent trends paint a different picture.
State actors themselves are now regularly implicated in physical attacks, stalking, and arrests of journalists. The most recent victim is Daniel Ojukwu, a reporter for the Foundation for Investigative Journalism.
On May 1st, just two days before International Press Freedom Day, Nigerian police detained Daniel Ojukwu, a reporter for FIJ, on the streets of Lagos. He was held for over a week without access to his family or colleagues, allegedly for violating the 2015 Cybercrime Act.
This incident follows a pattern of targeting journalists by the authorities. Last month, FIJ founder Fisayo Soyombo was declared wanted after exposing a smuggling ring with high-level connections. Instead of apprehending the smugglers, police sought to question Soyombo through FIJ’s board chair.
West Africa Weekly reported that at least 13 journalists have been attacked, detained, or harassed in the past year under Tinubu’s administration. Ojukwu joins Segun Olatunji, Dele Fasan, Precious Eze, Achadu Idibia, and others who have faced intimidation.
The Nigerian Police Force is the primary culprit, often with support from the military and political thugs.
In September 2023, the Kwara State Police arrested and held two online journalists, Abdulrazaq Babatunde and Lukman Bolakale, who run Just Events Online and Satcom Media, respectively. They were detained for several days reportedly under orders from high-ranking officials in the Kwara State Government.
According to Sahara Reporters, the journalists were detained based on a complaint filed by the former Principal Private Secretary (PSS) to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Ms. Monsurah Jumoke Gafar, who accused them of defamation, despite the fact that their report was based on a press release that was properly attributed.
In October 2023, Saint Onitsha, an online broadcaster and founder of Naija Live TV, was abducted at gunpoint in Bayelsa State and forcibly transported overnight to Abuja. Upon arrival, he was promptly charged with cyberstalking and defamation. Onitsha’s troubles began after he aired a critical broadcast regarding the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP) on his online platform.
The PAP provides monthly allowances to former oil militants as part of efforts to quell violence in the Niger Delta region. Authorities claimed that Onitsha knowingly shared an untrue and unverified report on Facebook, alleging that PAP officials had fatally beaten one of the beneficiaries.
Onitsha, known for his coverage of Niger Delta unrest, remained in detention for four months until he was granted bail by a court in January. He faces a potential 25 million naira fine and up to 10 years in prison if convicted, as legal proceedings against him continue.
In November 2023, Achadu Idibia, a journalist based in Kaduna, was apprehended and placed in a correctional facility following his critical report on the Kaduna Hajj Camp.
His article, titled “Kaduna Hajj camp, a national shame, men, women sleep together in an overcrowded hall—investigation,” led to charges by the Kaduna State Government, including alleged intimidation, defamation, insults, and incitement of religious discord.
Despite condemnation from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and ongoing violence in the state, the government persisted with Idibia’s prosecution.
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During the same period, political thugs harassed Chinagorom Ugwu, a reporter with Premium Times, at Polling Unit 028 in Ama Ozaraigwe, Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, while covering an off-season governorship election. The thugs became hostile towards Ugwu’s presence and ordered him to vacate the area.
In December 2023, Precious Eze, an online journalist and publisher, was taken into custody at his Gbgada residence in Lagos around 1:00 a.m. by individuals claiming to be security operatives.
Following his arrest, the police confiscated Eze’s electronic devices, and he was unreachable for days, leaving family and friends unaware of his location. The circumstances surrounding his arrest remain unclear.
In January 2024, attacks targeting journalists persisted into the new year, beginning with Bunmi Adigun from Ogun State Television, who became the first reported victim of the year.
Adigun was assaulted by security agents linked to Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke during a ceremony celebrating the 66th birthday of the Abepa of Joga-Orile, Oba Adeyemi Adekeye. Adeleke was also honored with a chieftaincy title at the event.
Recalling the incident, Adigun described how they were pushed and harassed, with his cameraman and others facing similar treatment. He recounted feeling harassed and nearly having his clothes torn.
The Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists condemned the attack as “reckless and reprehensible behavior towards a member of the press,” emphasizing that any assault on a journalist undermines the fundamental principles of press freedom.
In February 2024, Nigeria saw a wave of attacks on journalists. In Imo State, during the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship election primary held in a Benin City hotel, at least two journalists were assaulted by political thugs.
PM News reported that several journalists, including an NTA cameraman and FRCN reporter, were manhandled and had their equipment vandalized.
Shortly after, Dele Fasan, a regional bureau chief for Galaxy Television, was assaulted and handcuffed by soldiers in Delta State while filming a protest against economic hardship. Fasan recounted that despite showing his press identification, a soldier hit him and confiscated his phone, deleting images of the protest scene.
During the same period, Kasarachi Aniagolu, a journalist with Whistler Newspaper based in Abuja, was arrested by the anti-violence crime unit of the Nigerian Police while covering a raid on Bureau de Change operators in Abuja’s Wuse Zone 4 area. Aniagolu was detained alongside 95 forex traders but was released the following day.
In March 2024, Segun Olatunji, the First News Editor, was abducted from his home in Lagos on March 15 by armed men, two of whom were in military attire. His wife reported that they identified themselves as Nigerian army officers and took Olatunji away without providing any explanation.
His arrest was suspected to be linked to a report exposing a government official associated with the Nigeria Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for favoritism in awarding public contracts.
“Improvements Needed in Press Freedom” – CPJ
Three months into his presidency, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent NGO advocating for global press freedom, sent a letter to Tinubu urging swift and deliberate actions to enhance press conditions in Nigeria.
The CPJ called for legislative and regulatory reforms to end journalist imprisonment and surveillance. Unfortunately, these appeals were disregarded.
“Disturbing Attacks on Nigerian Journalists” – IPC
The International Press Centre in Lagos expressed deep concern over the escalating attacks on journalists in Nigeria, describing the trend as problematic. Melody Akinjiyan, the Press Freedom Officer at IPC Lagos, emphasized the urgent need for intervention.
Regarding Daniel’s detention, Akinjiyan stated: “It is very worrisome to subject journalists to attacks while in the line of duty. Daniel was only carrying out his duties as a journalist. If anybody has a problem with his reports/publications, the court is there to seek redress instead of taking unlawful actions.”
She mentioned that the International Press Centre (IPC) operates a dedicated unit known as the IPC’s Centre for the Safety & Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ), which meticulously documents attacks on journalists and initiates advocacy efforts as needed.
