The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Benin Republic’s authorities to immediately release Nigerian YouTube-based travel journalist, Mathew Ojoduma, who has been held in prison since January on what it described as spurious terrorism charges.
Ojoduma, the founder of the YouTube channel Africa Views, which documents travel, culture, and environmental stories across African cities, was arrested on January 29, 2025, while crossing Benin’s northern border into Burkina Faso through the town of Porga.
According to his wife, Priscilla Mathew, and court documents reviewed by CPJ, the journalist was travelling with a camera, drone, and laptop for a reporting trip covering parts of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal when he was detained by Beninese security forces.
Authorities later charged him with membership of a terrorist organisation on February 13. His case was first heard on May 19 by the Special Court for the Repression of Economic Offences and Terrorism (CRIET), which ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over the case and referred it to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
CPJ Africa Director, Angela Quintal, condemned the prolonged detention, saying Ojoduma had “already wasted nine months of his life in jail on spurious terrorism charges.”
“Authorities in Benin must immediately release journalist Mathew Ojoduma. The Nigerian government must also step up and act to ensure fair treatment of its citizens, rather than keeping silent in the face of this abuse of press freedom,” Quintal said.
Court documents reviewed by CPJ indicated that Ojoduma was accused of “being in intelligence with terrorist groups” due to his “insistence” on travelling through Porga, an area affected by insurgent activity. He denied the allegations.
In July, the CRIET ordered that Ojoduma be remanded in pre-trial detention in Cotonou, where he has remained. His lawyer, who declined to be named for fear of reprisal, said court records showed that searches of Ojoduma’s phone and hard drives found no evidence linking him to terrorism.
The analysis, according to the lawyer, confirmed that Ojoduma’s work focused on travel and environmental reporting with an interest in regional development and politics.
Despite efforts by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos to draw the attention of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, there has been no official response from the Nigerian government.
“The family reached out for support, and we wrote to the relevant federal agencies,” said Ayodeji Olabiwonnu, Secretary of the Lagos NBA branch. “Unfortunately, no one has responded.”
Benin’s Ministry of Justice, CRIET officials, and government spokespersons also failed to respond to multiple requests for comment by CPJ through calls, messages, and emails.
Northern Benin has witnessed rising militant activity since 2021, as extremist groups linked to the Islamic State expanded from neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger. Analysts say the security situation has made journalists and humanitarian workers increasingly vulnerable to suspicion and arbitrary detention.
Press freedom advocates warn that Ojoduma’s case reflects a worrying trend of criminalising journalism and restricting press movement in West Africa, especially in regions affected by conflict.
CPJ urged Beninese authorities to respect press freedom, release Ojoduma unconditionally, and ensure his safety, while also calling on the Nigerian government to fulfil its diplomatic responsibility to protect its citizens abroad.
