About 500 journalists, media houses have been attacked since 2015 – Press Freedom Report

A latest report on press freedom in Nigeria under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that there were about 300 violations and abuse cases involving 500 journalists. media workers, and media houses.

The report was released by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in partnership with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Wednesday.

According to the two associations, the high figures of abuse against the press since the Buhari-led administration emerged in 2015 calls for concerns. They said journalists suffered attack from both protesters and government.

Presenting the report, Barrister Frank Tietie, the Executive Director, Citizen Advocacy for Social and Economic Right (CASER) said that this development is unexpected as it only brings back unpleasant memories of the long tenure of military rule and the established culture of intolerance against the media when Nigeria recorded its most grievous crimes against the industry.

He said: “The nation is witnessing actions that seek to undermine the journalism profession by both state and non-state actors.

“Nigeria is fast gaining notoriety for its failure to tackle impunity for crimes against journalists including killings.

“For example, in 2017, four journalists were killed in separate incidents with no credible inquiry yet to find the culprits and their motive for the fatal attacks.

“The four were Ikechukwu Onubogu, a cameraman with the Anambra Broadcasting Services; Lawrence Okojie of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) in Edo State; Famous Giobaro, a desk editor with Glory FM in Bayelsa State and freelance broadcaster, Abdul Ganiyu Lawal in Ekiti State.”