IBADAN, Nigeria – A staggering 66 journalists from various Nigerian media organizations faced different forms of attack in 2022, according to a report from the International Press Centre (IPC) released on Friday, May 5, 2023.
The assaults ranged from unlawful arrests or detention to physical assaults, threats to life, and abduction. Other incidents included media shutdowns, robbery, hacking of social media accounts, threats to disclose sources, denial of access to information, and even murder.
The IPC presented the findings at a Friday stakeholders’ forum in Ibadan, Oyo State. The event, organized in collaboration with Open Society Foundations (OSF), brought together seasoned journalists, editors, media managers, and educators from print, electronic, and online media and educational institutions across Nigeria.
Melody Akinjiyan, IPC Programme Officer, stated that the number of reported attacks on journalists and media organizations in 2022 was higher than in previous years.
IPC Executive Director Lanre Arogundade explained that the Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ) was established to expand press freedom in Nigeria and Africa, with journalist safety being critical.
The forum served as part of the activities commemorating this year’s World Press Freedom Day. Adebiyi, one of the lead discussants, emphasized the importance of addressing the numerous issues affecting journalists in Nigeria.
Babalola added that the forum’s topic was vital for discussing and developing a roadmap to enhance press freedom in the country, asserting that freedom of expression is an inalienable right of every Nigerian.
Adaja presented a paper titled “Protecting Freedom of Expression in the Age of Misinformation and Disinformation” at the forum, shedding light on the challenges faced by journalists in the current media landscape.
