Security forces and government officials are responsible for most of the attacks, harassment, and intimidation faced by journalists in Nigeria, according to a new report by Media Rights Agenda (MRA).
The 129-page report, titled “When Protectors Become Predators: The State against Freedom of Expression in Nigeria,” was released on Monday to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. It covers violations recorded between January 1 and October 31, 2025.
MRA reported that government actors are responsible for almost 74 percent of all recorded abuses against journalists during this time. The Nigeria Police Force, which represents 45 percent of the incidences involved, was the single-largest perpetrator of violations of media rights.
Other offenders mentioned in the report include the Department of State Services (DSS); the military; paramilitary agencies; and elected officials at the federal and state level.
MRA reported at least 69 incidents involving journalists carrying out their work that included arbitrary arrests, unlawful detentions, physical assaults, threats to life, raids on journalists’ offices, kidnappings, and other intimidation tactics.
“The report shows that journalists in Nigeria are increasingly under siege, not just from criminals and insurgents, but from the very state institutions meant to protect them,” said Ayode Longe, MRA’s Deputy Executive Director.
He described the trend as “a direct assault on democracy and the rule of law,” warning that it contradicts Nigeria’s constitutional and international commitments to protect press freedom and the public’s right to information.
Additionally the report stated, that the lack of investigation or prosecution of offenders has created an unspoken policy of impunity, broken trust in the institutions of governance, and led to self-censorship amongst journalists. MRA reminded the authorities that the protection of journalists is guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution, Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The organization urged the Federal government to hold violators accountable, reform security and law enforcement agencies, and to cease the misuse of laws such as the Cybercrime Act to attack the press.
It also urged the National Assembly to pass a law that criminalises attacks on journalists and asked the National Judicial Council (NJC) to curb the abuse of court processes used to intimidate media professionals.
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