A recent report on X, formerly known as Twitter, has spotlighted a growing crisis that has plagued Nigeria for decades—PRESS-GAGGING: Nigerian Journalists & Media Personalities Who Have Either Disappeared or Are In Exile Due to the Authorities’ High-Handedness and Persecution. The report underscores a chilling reality: Nigeria has become one of West Africa’s most perilous environments for journalists. These brave individuals, dedicated to truth-telling, face constant surveillance, attacks, arbitrary arrests, and in some cases, enforced disappearances.
According to the 2023 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Nigeria ranks 123 out of 180 countries. This dismal ranking reflects the increasingly hostile environment journalists navigate in Nigeria, where press freedom is under relentless assault. The index highlights the violent attacks, unlawful detentions, and shooting deaths of journalists that have marred the country, particularly during its volatile electoral periods. Disturbingly, nearly 20 journalists and media outlets were assaulted during the general elections in February and March 2023 alone.
Crimes against journalists persist with impunity, even when the culprits are identified or detained. There is an alarming absence of state mechanisms to protect these individuals. On the contrary, the authorities often intensify the repression, subjecting journalists to invasive surveillance, threats, abductions, and, in extreme cases, torture or assassination.
The persecution of journalists in Nigeria is not a new phenomenon. From as far back as the 1980s, when the legendary journalist Dele Giwa was brutally murdered by a parcel bomb, to the present day, when government critics and whistleblowers like PIDOM are targeted, Nigerian journalists have been hunted like game. This oppressive climate has forced many to flee the country, seeking refuge in nations where press freedom is not just a concept but a protected right.
This report sheds light on the Nigerian journalists and media personalities who have either mysteriously disappeared or fled the country in a desperate bid for safety. These are the untold stories of those who have paid the ultimate price for daring to expose the truth, serving as a sobering reminder of the fragility of press freedom in one of Africa’s most populous nations.
PIONEER NEWS 