At least 22 journalists have been killed in Nigeria since 1992, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The organization also documented the case of two other journalists who went missing and are presumed dead. At least 12 of these journalists are confirmed to have been killed in connection with their work.
In a letter to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, CPJ President Jodie Ginsberg called on the president to take swift and deliberate action to improve conditions for the press in Nigeria. She said that there is no better time to revitalize press freedom in the country.
“We urge you to ensure that justice is delivered for attacks on the press,” Ginsberg wrote. “We also ask you to reform legislation and regulations to prevent the jailing and surveillance of journalists. We further urge you to ensure undisrupted access to the internet, online platforms, and news websites.”
CPJ said it has documented consistent accounts of threats, harassment, and physical attacks by security officers, politicians, and their supporters against journalists on the job, including while covering protests and elections. The organization said it documented intimidation attempts, physical attacks, or detentions of over 40 journalists during this year’s presidential and state election period alone.
