The Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID) has condemned the numerous attacks on journalists by Nigerian police during the #EndBadGovernance protests nationwide.
In a statement signed by Busola Ajibola, Deputy Director of the Journalism Program, CJID detailed multiple incidents of police officers physically assaulting, intimidating, and violating journalists’ rights, which have been documented through videos and photos.
On Wednesday, August 31, 2024, News Central Television reporter Bernard Akede was harassed by police while reporting live at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, disrupting the broadcast. In Abuja, Premium Times reporter Yakubu Muhammed was assaulted despite wearing a press jacket and identifying himself as a journalist. He sustained a head injury after being struck with a gun butt, and his camera was damaged.
Additionally, Jide Oyekunle, a journalist with Daily Independent Newspaper and Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Chapter, was arrested and had his phone confiscated by FCT police officers while covering the protest in Abuja. Kayode Jaiyeola, a photojournalist with Punch Newspaper, was arrested by a police officer attached to the National Security Adviser and detained by FCT Police Command.
Mary Adeboye, a News Central Television journalist, was tear-gassed by police in Abuja, while Jonathan Ugbal, Managing Editor of Cross River Watch Newspaper, was assaulted and detained in Calabar. In Maiduguri, nine staff members of Radio Ndarason International (RNA), including the Editor-in-Chief and Nigeria Office Director, were arrested and detained.
In Delta State, journalists were attacked by pro-government protesters. Guardian Newspaper reporter Monday Osayande and Punch Newspaper reporter Matthew Ochei were assaulted while interviewing protesters. In Kano State, a TVC correspondent was attacked by armed hoodlums, resulting in an injured hand. About eleven journalists were also attacked while traveling in a Channels TV vehicle, with TVC correspondent Ibrahim Isah injured while trying to escape.
CJID emphasized that the police’s failure to provide adequate security and the assaults on journalists are deeply troubling and violate the rule of law, democratic principles, and journalists’ fundamental rights. They called on the Inspector General of Police to conduct a thorough investigation and hold accountable all involved officers.
“Journalists play a crucial role in sustaining a functional democracy and must be protected by the state and all stakeholders,” the statement concluded.
