Nigeria Faces Renewed Pressure to Protect Journalists as Impunity Concerns Persist

On International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, concerns mount over arbitrary arrests, cybercrime prosecutions, intimidation and attacks on media professionals, with calls for stronger government accountability and protection of press freedom.

Nigeria is facing renewed calls to strengthen the protection of journalists and ensure accountability for attacks against media professionals, as the international community marks the 2026 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.

The concerns centre on persistent reports of intimidation, arbitrary arrests, detention and prosecution of journalists over critical reporting, raising questions about press freedom, access to information and the ability of the media to hold public officials accountable.

Governments at all levels have been enjoined to take concrete measures to curb violence, threats and attacks against journalists and other media workers.

The newspaper expressed concern that journalists in Nigeria continue to operate in an increasingly difficult environment, with security personnel allegedly acting on behalf of influential individuals in the public and private sectors to intimidate or detain reporters over their work.

It particularly highlighted the use of Sections 24 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act in cases involving journalists. Section 24 addresses cyberstalking-related offences, while Section 27 covers conspiracy and related offences.

According to the editorial, at least eight journalists had reportedly been wrongfully prosecuted, arrested or detained under the cybercrime legislation following amendments to the law in 2024. The newspaper attributed the assessment to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which has consistently raised concerns about press freedom in Nigeria.

The editorial warned that the use of criminal legislation against journalists could discourage investigative reporting and weaken the media’s watchdog role.

The concerns come as the United Nations observes November 2 as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. The date commemorates the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on November 2, 2013, and was formally proclaimed by the UN General Assembly through Resolution A/RES/68/163 in 2013.

The 2026 observance is themed ‘Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies’, highlighting the risks confronting media professionals, particularly those reporting on conflict, insecurity and other emergencies.

The scale of the global problem remains significant. UNESCO reports that more than 1,600 journalists were killed between 2006 and 2025, with nearly six out of every seven cases remaining judicially unresolved.

Its 2026 findings further indicate that 189 journalists were killed in violent attacks during 2024 and 2025, with 67 per cent of the deaths occurring in conflict zones. UNESCO puts the global impunity rate at 86 per cent, meaning that the overwhelming majority of journalist killings remain unresolved through the judicial system.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned that attacks against journalists extend beyond physical violence to include surveillance, intimidation, arbitrary detention, online harassment and legal actions intended to silence critical reporting.

The editorial also drew attention to Section 22 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which assigns the press, radio, television and other mass media institutions the responsibility of holding government accountable to the people.

It urged public officials to respect the constitutional protections surrounding freedom of expression and the provisions of Article 19 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

However, the newspaper stressed that media organisations also have responsibilities, particularly in addressing misinformation, fake news and breaches of professional standards.

It called for stronger editorial policies that promote accuracy, fairness, responsible reporting and sensitivity to Nigeria’s cultural and social diversity.

The broader challenge, therefore, involves protecting journalists from intimidation while ensuring that media organisations maintain professional and ethical standards.

As the 2026 international observance draws attention to the dangers confronting journalists, the demand for accountability remains central: attacks must be properly investigated, perpetrators prosecuted where evidence supports criminal charges, and media professionals allowed to carry out legitimate reporting without fear of retaliation.

The protection of journalists, the newspaper argued, is essential not only to press freedom but also to democratic accountability, public access to information and the rule of law.