Chisom Oguadimma
On November 2nd each year, the world observes the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, a day established by the United Nations General Assembly. On November 2nd each year, the world observes the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, a day established by the United Nations General Assembly.
This day calls on member states to take firm action against the culture of impunity for crimes against journalists.
The 2024 theme, “Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies,” emphasizes the need for greater protection, particularly in challenging environments.
This date commemorates the tragic assassination of two French journalists, Claude Verlon and Ghislaire Dupont, from Radio France International, who were kidnapped and murdered in Kidal, Mali, in 2013.
A recent UNESCO report highlights that impunity remains a significant issue, noting that, on average, a journalist is killed every four days.
Between 2006 and 2024, more than 1,700 journalists were killed globally, with nearly 90% of these cases unresolved in court.
In Nigeria, a 2023 report by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), an African media think-tank, reveals an alarming escalation in violence against journalists, with 74 press attacks recorded in a single year.
Physical assaults made up 47% of incidents, while denials of access and equipment damage accounted for 13% and 7%, respectively.
One example of this disturbing trend was highlighted by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which reported that Adesola Ikulajolu, a reporter with CJID, was harassed by security agencies while covering elections in Lagos.
Officers deleted images from his phone as he moved between polling stations.
Similarly, journalist Daniel Ojukwu of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism recounted being abducted by police in Lagos on May 1, 2024, after reporting on procurement irregularities involving a senior government official.
He was detained for ten days, initially in Lagos and then in Abuja, without clear justification. “It was disheartening and affected my work,” Ojukwu said, adding that this was his third arrest and that the ordeal felt like an abduction.
Ojukwu expressed resilience in his commitment to journalism, stating, “If anything, my experiences have made me more determined to report the truth.”
He emphasized that journalists in Nigeria lack respect and face obstacles to press freedom. “The press can tell stories, but it’s up to the public to act on them,” he explained, urging for better legislation and policies to prevent the misuse of police power against journalists.
Freelance journalist Abdulrasheed Hammad shared a similar harrowing experience. While investigating a sachet water company’s use of a fake NAFDAC number in Sokoto State, Hammad and his assistant were physically attacked by the factory’s workers after attempting to verify their findings. The workers restrained them, forced them back into the factory, and subjected them to intimidation, handcuffing and photographing them to further humiliate them.
