Nigerian and international press freedom organisations have criticised Vice President Kashim Shettima over recent remarks suggesting that journalists have not faced harassment since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, describing the claim as inaccurate and dismissive of documented abuses.
In a joint letter dated 1 April 2026 and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the groups expressed “alarm” at the vice president’s comments, which they said contradict evidence of attacks, arrests, and intimidation of journalists across the country.
The letter, which was signed by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), International Press Centre (IPC), International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, and the Africa Editors Forum, was copied to Vice President Shettima and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.
The groups were reacting to a State House statement issued on 27 February, in which Mr Shettima told members of the Nigerian Press Council that there had been no harassment of journalists in the past three years, adding that the administration had created an enabling environment for media practice.
However, the organisations said available data shows a different reality.
According to the CPJ, Nigerian authorities have detained journalists without warning and subjected some to mistreatment since 2023. The group also documented multiple arrests and prosecutions linked to journalists’ work, including cases involving defamation and cybercrime charges.
The letter further cited incidents during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests, where at least 56 journalists were reportedly assaulted or harassed while covering the demonstrations. In some cases, security forces were said to have fired bullets and tear gas in the direction of journalists.
Other organisations also provided figures highlighting the scale of the problem. The International Press Centre recorded 65 attacks on journalists in 2024, ranging from physical assault to unlawful detention. Media Rights Agenda reported 86 press freedom violations in 2025, while the CJID documented at least 231 attacks since Mr Tinubu took office.
The groups also raised concerns about longstanding impunity in cases involving violence against journalists, noting that accountability remains weak despite repeated calls for reform.
They referenced the case of Onifade Pelumi, a journalist who died in 2020 after reportedly being detained by police while covering a protest. More than five years later, they said, his body has yet to be returned to his family.
The organisations criticised the government for failing to take decisive action to address these issues and urged President Tinubu to hold perpetrators accountable and implement legal reforms to protect press freedom.
They warned that with general elections scheduled for 2027, failure to address threats against journalists could undermine democratic processes, noting that election periods in Nigeria are often marked by increased attacks on the media.
