The Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) has blamed the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and politicians for more than 70 percent of the harassment and risks faced by Nigerian journalists, particularly during elections and civic protests.
The Center's chief executive officer (CEO), Motunrayo Alaka, presented these findings on Wednesday during the second edition of the Civic Space Guard Conference, focusing on artificial intelligence, press freedom, civic space and the future of media journalism. research in Nigeria, held in Abuja. .
Group photo of the panelists and other participants.
“As for the perpetrators of violations, according to what we investigate, we see that politicians and the police are responsible for 70 percent of the cases,” he said. “It is an aberration that the institutions that monitor elections also harass journalists in the line of duty.”
Ms Alaka said that 90 per cent of recorded attacks against journalists occurred during their journalistic duties. The 2023 Journalism and Civic Space Inquiry, soon to be released by WSCIJ, examined incidents by month, state, and type of harassment or violence.
“We found that non-violent violations were particularly high: 64 percent of cases. “This is worrying,” he added, noting that violent violations often involve assaults and deaths. “Assaults accounted for 35 percent of incidents, and one in five of them resulted in a death.”
The report documented incidents such as the use of tear gas, shootings, bomb attacks and threats, indicating that journalists face harassment even in places where they should be safe, including government offices and polling stations.
Reflecting on media credibility, Ms Alaka highlighted the need for journalists to distinguish journalism from mere content creation. “Content is not journalism,” he said, urging journalists to stand up for ethics amid growing distrust in the media.
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Importance of investigative journalism
Earlier, some panelists explained the vital roles of investigative journalism in improving democracy and protecting civic space.
The panel, which included Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga of the DiGiCiviC Initiative, Chido Onumah of the African Center for Media and Information Literacy, Hauwa Shaffii-Nuhu of HumAngle and Nigerian Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi, addressed the evolution of the media in the digital age and the challenges faced by journalists.
Mrs Ogunlana-Nkanga spoke about the media landscape of the past, comparing it to today's digital accessibility, which offers a wealth of information at our fingertips.
The panelists discussed the persistent struggles faced by journalists in Nigeria, 25 years after the return to democracy.
Cross section of participants
Onumah noted: “We are still here having conversations about civic space, democratic rights and the role of journalists.”
The panel advocated for collaboration between journalists, civil society and legal professionals to strengthen press freedom.
Ms Shaffii-Nuhu emphasized the role of journalism as an ally in democracy, highlighting its ability to amplify marginalized voices, especially in rural areas.
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Adejobi acknowledged the need for the police to support journalism, arguing that “force is not the enemy of the press.”
He highlighted the need to distinguish between professional journalism and unregulated online content. “We're really trying to protect this profession from people who undermine its integrity.”
Despite improvements, panelists acknowledged, harassment and intimidation of journalists persist, requiring greater legal protections and accountability.
Onumah highlighted the need to financially empower the media, suggesting that government funding could stabilize the sector.
A separate panel addressed the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on investigative journalism.
While acknowledging the potential of AI to improve data analysis, experts cautioned against over-reliance on the technology and emphasized the need for ethical practices and human oversight.
Speakers called for collaborative frameworks that promote the responsible use of AI in journalism, ensuring that accuracy and integrity remain paramount.