The Nigeria Union of Journalists has asked the Federal Government, security agencies and other relevant bodies to investigate and prosecute those behind attacks on journalists, as well as their harassment and unlawful detention.
The union also asked the authorities to strengthen legal safeguards for media workers and to ensure that security agencies treat press freedom as a right guaranteed by the Constitution.
The demands were contained in a statement issued on Monday by the NUJ National President, Alhassan Yahya, to mark the 2026 International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
The union voiced concern about continued intimidation, illegal arrests, physical assaults, online bullying and other forms of violence against journalists in Nigeria and around the world. It warned that failure to hold offenders accountable breeds fear among media professionals and weakens democratic accountability.
According to the statement, journalism is the foundation of any healthy democracy because it checks those in power, amplifies the voices of the marginalised and protects the public’s right to accurate information.
The union said impunity for crimes against journalists has a chilling effect on public debate and erodes the rule of law. It added that when attackers face no legal consequences, public confidence in institutions declines and self-censorship becomes more common.
The NUJ urged that all reported cases of harassment, physical assault and unlawful detention of journalists be investigated thoroughly, independently and transparently, and that those found responsible be brought to justice.
It also asked the government to enforce existing laws that protect against arbitrary arrest and censorship, and to stop security regulations from being used to intimidate media workers.
The statement further called on security agencies to see journalists as essential workers and partners in democratic governance, not as opponents.
The union encouraged media organisations, civil society groups and international partners to work together on safety protocols and emergency support networks, especially for reporters in high-risk areas. It also appealed to human rights groups and the public to help create conditions in which journalists can do their jobs free of fear and intimidation.
The NUJ stressed that a threat to a journalist anywhere endangers democratic governance everywhere, and that no journalist should have to sacrifice safety, freedom or life for reporting the truth.
The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists is marked every year on November 2 to draw attention to attacks on media professionals and the need for those responsible to answer for them.
