The International Press Centre (IPC) strongly condemns the attacks on journalists and media professionals while covering the nationwide protests on August 1, 2024.
Despite calls for a safe environment, journalists faced physical assault, harassment, denial of access, and destruction of equipment.
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The IPC’s Safety of Journalists Alert Desk documented incidents in Lagos, Kano, FCT, Abuja, Cross-River, and Delta States, resulting in injuries, arrests, and trauma.
The details of the incidents include:
- Benard Akede of News Central Television was harassed by police officers and LCC officials in Lagos.
- Ibrahim Isah, TVC News Correspondent, was physically assaulted by hoodlums in Kano, and a vehicle conveying journalists was vandalized.
- Yakubu Mohammed of Premium Times was attacked and injured by police officers in Abuja, and cameras were destroyed.
- Jide Oyekunle, a photojournalist with Daily Independent, was arrested, and his mobile phone seized.
- Mary Adeboye of News Central Television was affected by tear gas in Abuja.
- Joseph Abasi-Abasi, Nigerian Tribune reporter, was seriously injured by hoodlums in Calabar.
- Jonathan Ugbal of Cross River Watch was arrested, beaten, and taken to an unknown destination.
- Matthew Ochei of Punch Newspaper, Monday Osayande of Guardian Newspaper, and a Pointer reporter Lucy were attacked by anti-protest protesters in Delta State.
The IPC’s Press Freedom Officer, Melody Akinjiyan, described the attacks as a troubling repeat of history and called for investigations and justice.
The IPC emphasizes that journalists’ rights to cover and report protests must be respected, as guaranteed by the 1999 Nigeria Constitution and regulatory frameworks.
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