To commemorate the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists which is marked on November 2nd of every year, the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) have urged the media executives, the Nigerian government, and other stakeholders to collaborate to create a safe space for media practitioners to work freely in the country by investigating unresolved cases of attacks on journalists.

These two organisations, in their separate press statements to mark the significance of the day, which was themed “Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies”, condemned the level of attacks on journalists in the past year and how most of the perpetrators have not yet been brought to the book of justice.

Melody Akinjiyan, the International Press Centre’s Press Freedom Officer, issued a statement condemning the increasing number of recorded attacks on journalists that have not been prosecuted, stating that it has increased the impunity for crimes against journalists, which is why Nigeria is ranked high among countries where press freedom is threatened.

IPC further highlighted the numbers of journalists who have been attacked, particularly when they were doing their jobs during crises and emergencies in the country, revealing that the outcome of its findings shows that in the “past nine (9) months not less than forty (40) incidents of physical assault, harassment, threat to life, torture, kidnapping, unlawful arrest/detention, loss/damage of valuables and gadgets (cameras, phones, midgets, money, etc.) among others and involving over sixty-five (65) journalists and other media professionals were recorded.

IPC report further emphasised the timing and location of the incidents of attacks against the journalists, stating that while most of the affected journalists were male, there is a record of a female journalist, Mary Ajiboye of News Central, who was teargassed by the law enforcement agents while she was covering the #endbadgovernance protest in August 2024.

The report also stated that the majority of the attacks on journalists were physical assaults, harassment, and unlawful arrests. Although state agents make up the majority of those who attack journalists, some journalists were also attacked by thugs while performing their duties.

Reacting to the findings of the report, the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Mr Lanre Arogundade, condemned the attacks on media practitioners and called for an end to impunity for crimes against journalists in Nigeria.

He also added that any law to suppress and intimidate the press must not be tolerated in the country, calling on the concerned stakeholders to rise up against the trend as it continues to undermine the country’s democracy.

“We are calling for an end to impunity for crimes against journalists in Nigeria. We cannot turn a blind eye to attacks against journalists. We attach the highest priority to the safety of journalists and other media actors.

“We oppose any action, legislation, regulation, or political pressure that limits freedom of the press. Acts of intimidation and violence against journalists in Nigeria have to end for democracy to survive. Attacks against media institutions and journalists are attacks against democratic rights including the right of the public to know the truth about the way they are governed,” Mr. Arogundade said.

In a similar vein, the Media Rights Agenda asked the Federal Governments to adhere to the February 16, 2024, ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered them to take action to stop attacks on journalists and other media professionals and to look into, prosecute, and punish those who commit such attacks.

Ms. Obioma Okonkwo, the Head of its Legal Department, MRA, accused the Federal Government of nurturing the impunity against journalists in the country as it has disobeyed the judgement delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo in a suit it filed against the Attorney-General of the Federation in which the court granted the eight declarations sought by MRA and issued three mandatory orders as an affront to justice and the rule of law.

Ms Okonkwo stated that the court’s orders directed the Federal Government to take measures to prevent attacks on journalists, as well as investigate, prosecute, and punish perpetrators of all attacks against journalists and other media practitioners, but the government has failed to do so.

She also called for a renewed commitment to end violence and other forms of attacks against journalists and ensure that every journalist in Nigeria can work freely and safely.

“The culture of impunity being nurtured by the Federal Government through its failure to comply with and enforce the court’s judgment is deeply concerning.” “Far too often, crimes committed against journalists remain unresolved, and the perpetrators go unpunished. This impunity not only emboldens those who seek to harm or silence journalists and the media, it also undermines public confidence in the rule of law and democratic governance.”

MRA urged the government to give journalist protection top priority by taking tangible steps, such as enacting legislation that shields journalists from harassment and violence and making sure that those who commit crimes against media professionals are prosecuted as soon as possible.