The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has raised alarm over what it described as a worsening climate for freedom of expression in Nigeria, documenting 86 incidents of attacks against journalists, media organisations and citizens in 2025, with none resulting in successful investigation or prosecution.
The findings are contained in MRA’s 147-page 2025 Annual Report on Freedom of Expression in Nigeria, titled “The Reign of Impunity,” released on Thursday in Lagos.
According to the report, the documented incidents occurred across 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, underscoring what the organisation described as a systemic failure to hold perpetrators accountable, even in cases involving criminal offences.
Arrests and detentions emerged as the most frequently used tool for suppressing media freedom and free expression, accounting for 38 cases, or more than 44 per cent of all recorded incidents. Physical violence followed closely, with 21 cases of assault and battery representing over 24 per cent of the violations documented.
The report also recorded two killings during the year one involving a journalist killed in the line of duty, and another involving a woman murdered over allegations of blasphemy. In addition, one case of kidnapping and the shutdown of a media outlet were documented.
In its analysis of perpetrators, MRA identified the Nigeria Police Force as the worst offender, responsible for 41 incidents, nearly 48 per cent of all attacks recorded. The Department of State Services (DSS) was cited as the second most implicated agency, accounting for about seven per cent of the cases. Combined, the two agencies were responsible for more than half of all documented violations.
Geographically, Lagos State recorded the highest number of attacks with 16 incidents, followed by the Federal Capital Territory with 14.
The report also highlighted troubling trends, including the continued use of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended, to target journalists and government critics. It further noted the increasing deployment of digital surveillance tools and spyware to monitor and track journalists.
MRA observed that law enforcement and security agencies not only failed to investigate crimes against journalists but often ignored attacks by non-state actors, even when present at the scene.
The report also accused security agencies of actively participating in the violent suppression of peaceful protests, during which journalists were frequently targeted while carrying out their duties.
In the preface to the report, MRA’s Executive Director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, said that despite rapid changes in the media landscape driven by digital technologies, the core challenges facing journalists remained deeply entrenched.
He identified these challenges as political, legal, economic and social, citing persistent attacks on journalists, abuse of laws and regulatory powers, shrinking civic space, harsh economic conditions and rising digital threats.
Mr. Ojo warned that a persistent culture of impunity remains one of the gravest threats to media freedom in Nigeria, emboldening perpetrators and fostering fear and self-censorship within the media community.
MRA called on the Federal Government and relevant authorities to ensure prompt, transparent investigations into all attacks against journalists and citizens, and to make the outcomes public. The organisation also urged the government to issue clear directives to security agencies prohibiting harassment, intimidation and arbitrary arrests of journalists and individuals exercising their right to free expression, particularly online.
In line with the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, MRA further recommended the establishment of a national mechanism or policy framework dedicated to the protection of journalists, including early warning systems and rapid response protocols.
