The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), alongside media stakeholders, civil society organisations, and human rights advocates, has raised concerns over increasing attacks on journalists and shrinking press freedom across West Africa.
The concerns were raised during the 2026 World Press Freedom Day event held in Abuja and organised by CJID in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, and other development partners.
Speaking at the event themed, “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development, and Security,” participants warned that growing hostility toward journalists threatens democracy, accountability, human rights protection, and regional stability.
According to data released by CJID, no fewer than 1,877 attacks against journalists and media practitioners were documented across five West African countries between 1986 and 2026.
The report further revealed that 59 journalists lost their lives within the period, with Nigeria recording 28 deaths, the highest among the countries surveyed.
CJID also disclosed that the Federal Capital Territory recorded 175 attacks on journalists and media professionals, while 13 incidents have already been documented across West Africa in 2026 alone, including two cases from Nigeria.
Stakeholders at the event described the figures as disturbing, warning that persistent attacks on journalists continue to weaken democratic institutions and civic freedoms across the region.
Representing the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, government officials reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to democratic governance, media development, and protection of citizens’ rights.
The minister noted that journalism is undergoing rapid transformation due to artificial intelligence, digital technologies, and changing communication patterns, stressing the importance of responsible adaptation within the media industry.
According to him, the government remains open to constructive engagement with media organisations to strengthen democratic participation and promote peaceful coexistence.
“Through responsible journalism and commitment to democratic values, Nigeria can continue to build a more informed and peaceful society,” he stated.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, represented at the programme, described press freedom as a fundamental pillar of democracy and sustainable peace.
He expressed concern over increasing reports of arbitrary arrests, cyber attacks, censorship, intimidation, digital surveillance, and institutional repression targeting journalists globally.
According to him, despite constitutional guarantees protecting freedom of expression in Nigeria, journalists still face harassment from security agencies, state actors, and other individuals.
“We continue to receive complaints relating to attacks on journalists, shrinking civic space, intimidation, and the suppression of critical reporting,” he said.
Ojukwu also criticised the misuse of laws such as the Cybercrimes Act to silence journalists and suppress dissenting opinions, warning that such actions undermine constitutional democracy and public trust.
He stressed that Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and press freedom, while Nigeria is equally bound by international human rights treaties, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The programme also featured the official launch of the Press Attack Tracker (PAT West Africa), a regional platform designed to monitor and document attacks against journalists and media organisations.
CJID Executive Director, Akintunde Babatunde, said the platform would strengthen accountability, improve data collection, and support advocacy efforts aimed at protecting journalists operating in hostile environments.
The event further included a panel discussion on the role of investigative journalism in promoting accountability, human rights, and nation-building.
Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, urged journalists to remain committed to investigative reporting and continue exposing governance failures and human rights violations.
He also called for attacks on journalists to attract stronger national and international responses to ensure accountability for perpetrators.
Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages at the NHRC, Fatimah Mohammed, encouraged journalists facing rights violations to seek redress through the commission.
Senior Programme Officer at AFRICMIL, Godwin Onyeacholem, blamed weak legal protections at state levels for the silence surrounding many cases of attacks against journalists.
The event also featured testimonies from journalists who had faced persecution while carrying out professional assignments.
One of the journalists, Matthew Ojoduma, narrated how he spent about nine months in detention in the Benin Republic after being accused of espionage during a documentary production trip across West Africa.
Ojoduma said security operatives allegedly detained him after discovering a mini drone and camera equipment in his possession.
He described the prison conditions as overcrowded and inhumane, alleging that detainees frequently collapsed due to poor living conditions.
According to him, he later used artificial intelligence tools to draft letters that eventually attracted intervention and contributed to his release.
The World Press Freedom Day programme also featured training sessions on trauma-informed and dignity-centred reporting for journalists covering conflict, violence, and human rights issues.
One of the sessions was facilitated by Managing Editor at HumAngle, Hauwa Shaggi Nuhu, who emphasised ethical storytelling and the protection of vulnerable individuals during reporting.
