By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
MEDIA Rights Agenda (MRA) has documented a total of 86 incidents of attacks against journalists, media houses and citizens across Nigeria in 2025, describing the situation as a worsening environment for freedom of expression marked by a “reign of impunity”.
The organisation disclosed this in its 2025 Annual Report on Freedom of Expression in Nigeria, released on Thursday in Lagos.
The 147-page report, titled *The Reign of Impunity*, captured violations across 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with none of the cases leading to a successful investigation or prosecution, even where criminal offences were involved.
According to the report, arrests and detentions were the most frequently used methods to suppress media freedom, with 38 cases recorded, representing over 44 per cent of all documented incidents.
In the report made available to Stonix News through a press statement, MRA noted that Physical violence followed closely, as the report recorded 21 cases of assault and battery, accounting for more than 24 per cent of the total incidents.
The report further documented two killings during the year, one involving a journalist killed in the line of duty and another involving a woman murdered over alleged blasphemy.
Other serious violations included one case of kidnapping and the shutdown of a media outlet.
In identifying perpetrators, MRA noted that the Nigeria Police Force was responsible for 41 incidents, making it the worst offender and accounting for nearly 48 per cent of all recorded attacks.
The Department of State Services (DSS) was identified as the second-highest perpetrator, linked to about seven per cent of the cases.
Together, the two agencies accounted for more than half of all violations documented in the report.
Geographically, Lagos State recorded the highest number of attacks with 16 incidents, followed by the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with 14 incidents.
The report also highlighted emerging patterns, including what it described as the continued “weaponisation” of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended, to target journalists and government critics.
It also pointed to the growing use of digital surveillance tools and spyware to monitor and track journalists.
The organization noted that law enforcement and security agencies often failed to investigate attacks against journalists and, in some cases, ignored assaults by non-state actors even when present.
It added that journalists were frequently targeted during the violent suppression of peaceful protests and demonstrations.
In the preface to the report, MRA’s Executive Director, Mr Edetaen Ojo, said the challenges facing the media remained deeply rooted despite rapid changes in the media landscape driven by digital technologies.
He explained that journalists continued to face political, legal, economic and social pressures.
“The persistent culture of impunity remains one of the gravest threats to media freedom in Nigeria, emboldening perpetrators and deepening fear and self-censorship within the media community.
‘The shrinking civic space, misuse of laws and regulatory powers, harsh economic conditions and rising digital threats continued to test the resilience of media organisations in the country,” Ojo said.
MRA called on the Federal Government and relevant authorities to ensure that all attacks against journalists and citizens are promptly and transparently investigated, with the outcomes made public.
It also urged the government to direct security agencies to desist from harassment, intimidation and arbitrary arrests of journalists and citizens for peacefully expressing themselves, particularly online.
The organisation further recommended that, in line with the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, the Federal Government should establish a national mechanism dedicated to the protection of journalists, including early warning systems and rapid response protocols, in accordance with international standards.
END.
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