Six Nigerian and international media freedom organizations have jointly called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to hold accountable those responsible for abuses against journalists in Nigeria and take urgent steps to reform laws that criminalize journalism.
The appeal comes in response to a recent statement by Vice President Kashim Shettima Mustapha claiming that journalists have not been harassed since the Tinubu administration assumed office.
The letter, signed by Ms. Angela Quintal, Africa Director of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ); Ms. Busola Ajibola, Deputy Director of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID); Mr. Churchill Otieno, President of The Africa Editors Forum (TAEF); Mr. Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA); Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC); and Mr. Musikilu Mojeed, President of the Nigerian chapter of the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI), was copied to Vice President Shettima and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The organizations expressed alarm over the Vice President’s remarks, stating: “This mischaracterization conveys a grave indifference to the numerous and well-documented attacks on the press while you have been president, including violent abuses and arrests by Nigerian security forces.”
According to the letter, a State House press release dated February 27 quoted Vice President Shettima as asking members of the Nigerian Press Council: “For the past three years, have you heard of any harassment of journalists?” He further stated that President Tinubu’s “tolerance threshold is so high,” and praised the administration for creating an environment “conducive for journalists to carry out their duties without harassment.”
However, the organizations noted that evidence from multiple sources contradicts these claims. Since Tinubu assumed office in 2023, CPJ has documented Nigerian authorities detaining and mistreating journalists, while many reporters have been arrested and prosecuted under defamation and cybercrime laws.
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For example, in August 2024, CPJ reported that at least 56 journalists were assaulted or harassed while covering the #EndBadGovernance protests, with masked security forces firing bullets and tear gas toward 18 working journalists.
The IPC reported 65 attacks on journalists in 2024, including physical assault, threats, intimidation, murder, and unlawful detention. Similarly, Media Rights Agenda recorded 86 incidents of attacks on press freedom in 2025, while IPI Nigeria highlighted a consistent pattern of impunity for perpetrators. CJID verified at least 231 attacks on the press since 2023 and had previously written to the President’s office urging decisive action.
The letter also referenced historical cases, including the killing of at least 23 journalists in Nigeria since 1992, with two others missing and presumed dead. Thirteen were confirmed killed due to their reporting.
One case highlighted was that of Onifade Emmanuel Pelumi, who died in a mortuary days after being seen in police custody following a shooting while reporting in Lagos in 2020. His body has not yet been returned to his family.
The organizations criticized the administration for failing to hold perpetrators accountable and for appealing a court judgment ordering government action to improve press freedom. They warned that the lead-up to Nigeria’s 2027 elections often corresponds with increased attacks on journalists, making government intervention crucial.