MRA explained that there was a need for legislation to protect journalists and the media, which would be consistent with the requirements of relevant regional and international instruments.
There have been at least 45 attacks on journalists and media houses within one year of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has said.
The group lamented that law enforcement and security agencies were responsible for 62 percent of the 45 cases of attacks documented, while hoodlums and thugs perpetrated 16 percent of the attacks. It said unidentified persons such as kidnappers, armed individuals, and others were responsible for 15 percent of the attacks.
Edetaen Ojo, MRA executive director made this known in a statement on Wednesday, saying none of the attackers had been arrested, prosecuted or held accountable.
MRA explained that there was a need for legislation to protect journalists and the media, which would be consistent with the requirements of relevant regional and international instruments.
The statement reads in part, "We have in the room reporters, publishers, academics, human rights activists, lawyers and other professionals so that we can all reflect on the state of media freedom in Nigeria and figure out what else we can do to improve the environment for media practice in the country and combat impunity for attacks against journalists, other media professionals and media organizations.
"Throughout the existence of Media Rights Agenda as an organization, we have tracked attacks on journalists, media freedom and freedom of expression in general and have tried to offer various forms of assistance from time to time, including most notably providing legal and litigation assistance to victims of such attacks.
"Our experience has been mixed in this regard. We have recorded some successes but also have been unable to secure favourable outcomes on many occasions and we continue to grapple with the challenge of achieving better outcomes.
"We have also undertaken strategic litigation on many occasions as part of our efforts to improve the media environment in the country, again with mixed experiences of successes and disappointments.
"Over the last one year, we have monitored the state of media freedom, covering the first year in office of President Bola Tinubu.
"We have been disappointed and disturbed by numerous reported attacks on journalists and media houses across the country.
"These attacks, coming in various forms have included arbitrary arrests and detention, kidnappings, threats, battery, and even two killings. This signals a disheartening continuation of the trend of violence and intimidation against journalists.
"Victims of these attacks include both male and female.
"Between May 2023 and April 2024, MRA recorded at least 45 attacks on journalists and media houses.
"In 37 of these attacks, the victims were male journalists, representing 82 percent while in four of the attacks, the victims were female journalists, representing 9 percent of the attacks.
"The additional four attacks we recorded were against media houses, organizations or outlets which were invaded. These institutional attacks also represent 9 percent of the total attacks.
"Out of the 45 cases of attacks documented by MRA, law enforcement and security agencies were responsible for 62 percent of all attacks, while hoodlums and thugs perpetrated 16 percent of the attacks with unidentified persons such as kidnappers, armed individuals, etc. being responsible for 15 percent of the attacks.
"Typically, there is no instance where any of the perpetrators have been arrested, prosecuted or otherwise held accountable, with the result that impunity continues to thrive.
"MRA's analysis of the data on attacks against journalists and media workers in Nigeria indicates a significant level of risk across various categories. It seems to us therefore that in light of this situation, we need to redouble our efforts and collaborate more in defence of media freedom and the safety of journalists.
"Part of our strategy going forward would be to foster such collaboration and solidarity among media professionals, among civil society organizations between the media sector and civil society.
"We therefore call on all stakeholders to share information more and support each other in times of crisis. We are working with our partners to develop tools to enable us to better track, document and respond to attacks on journalists and media freedom in general.
"We are also engaged in discussions on the establishment of a national mechanism on the safety of journalists and part of the functions of such a mechanism will be ensuring that there is accountability for any attack against journalists or the abuse of power inherent in any such attack.
"We need to focus significant attention on the frequent attacks coming from law enforcement and security agencies while striving to ensure that there is no more impunity for such attacks.
"In pursuance of this, we also see the need to establish an industry-wide legal assistance programme supported by the dedicated fund with that ultimate objective of ensuring that no attack on any journalist or media organization goes unchallenged.
"We believe that there is a need for specific legislation to protect journalists and the media consistent with the requirements of relevant regional and international instruments. We will also be directing our efforts towards this objective in the coming months and years," he said.
SaharaReporters earlier reported how the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun arrested a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Daniel Ojukwu last week.
Ojukwu was arrested over his November report, which alleged that Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, paid 147 million naira (US$106,154) of government money for school construction into a restaurant’s bank account, according to the FIJ and its founder, Fisayo Soyombo.