66 journalists attacked in 2022 in Nigeria – IPC
No fewer than sixty-six (66) journalists from different media organisations across Nigeria suffered one form of attack or the other in the year 2022, news reports.
These attacks ranged from unlawful arrests or detention to physical assaults, threats to life and abduction.
Others include invasion, threats of sanction, media shutdown, robbery, hacking of social media accounts, threats to disclose sources, denial of access to information and murder.
The attacks were recorded between January and December last year, according to the International Press Centre.
These revelations were made on Friday during a stakeholders’ forum organized by the International Press Centre (IPC) in collaboration with Open Society Foundations (OSF).
The forum which was held in Ibadan, the Oyo State, had in attendance, seasoned journalists, editors, media managers, and teachers from both the print, electronic and online media as well as educational institutions across the country.
IPC Programme Officer, Melody Akinjiyan who presented a 2022 report on the safety of journalists and dimensions of press freedom violation, insisted that no fever than 66 reported cases of attacks on journalists and media organisations were recorded in 2022.
She added that the figure was higher than what was recorded in the previous years.
Akinjiyan said, “In this regard, the Safety of Journalists Alert Desk of the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos – Nigeria documented not less than sixty-six (66) incidents of attacks affecting journalists and other media professionals.
IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade in his welcome address, explained that the overarching framework for the establishment of the Centre for Safety and Protection of Journalists (I-CSPJ), is the strategic objective of expanding the frontiers of press freedom in Nigeria and Africa of which the safety of journalists is an integral part.
He added that the forum was part of the activities to commemorate this year’s World Press Freedom Day.
Adebiyi who was one of the lead discussants explained that a lot of issues needed to be tackled to address the plights of journalists across the country.
Babalola in his contribution, added that the topic of the forum was apt to discuss, agree and come up with a roadmap on the way forward for press freedom in the country.
He insisted that freedom of expression is the inalienable right of every Nigerian.
News reports that Adaja presented a paper titled “Protecting freedom of expression in the age of misinformation and disinformation” at the forum.
