Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has released its 2025 Annual Report on Freedom of Expression in Nigeria, revealing 86 documented attacks against journalists, media houses, and citizens across 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The report, titled “The Reign of Impunity,” paints a disturbing picture of a deteriorating environment for free expression, marked by widespread impunity and lack of accountability.
According to the 147-page report, arrests and detentions were the most common form of attack, accounting for 38 incidents (over 44% of cases), while physical assaults including battery made up 21 cases (24%). The report also recorded two killings: one journalist was murdered in the line of duty, and a woman was killed over alleged blasphemy. Other violations included a kidnapping and the closure of a media outlet.
Security agencies were identified as the main perpetrators of these violations. The Nigeria Police Force was involved in 41 incidents, representing nearly 48% of all attacks, while the Department of State Services (DSS) accounted for approximately 7%. Lagos and Abuja recorded the highest number of attacks, with 16 and 14 incidents, respectively.
The report highlights emerging trends, including the weaponization of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act of 2015 to target journalists and critics of government, as well as the increasing use of digital surveillance tools and spyware to monitor media practitioners. It also notes that law enforcement often failed to investigate crimes committed by non-state actors and actively participated in suppressing peaceful protests, with journalists frequently targeted while reporting.
MRA’s Executive Director, Edetaen Ojo, described the media environment as increasingly constrained by political, legal, economic, and social pressures. He warned that the “persistent culture of impunity remains one of the gravest threats to media freedom in Nigeria,” emboldening perpetrators and fostering fear and self-censorship within the media community.
The organisation urged the Federal Government to ensure law enforcement agencies promptly investigate all attacks against journalists and citizens, making outcomes public. It called for directives prohibiting harassment, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests of journalists or peaceful citizens, including online expression.
MRA also recommended establishing a national mechanism for the safety and protection of journalists, in line with the UN Plan of Action on the safety of journalists, including early warning systems and rapid response protocols.
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