8 Journalists Killed, 300 Violations Recorded Under Buhari–Report
A 2021 Press Freedom Report released on Wednesday said eight Nigerian journalists had been killed during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. It added that apart from the unresolved killings, the regime recorded 300 violations, affecting about 500 journalists, media workers, and media houses in the country.
The report released by the Media Foundation for West Africa in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists, said the development was of major concern to the NUJ, as journalists and media organisations remained targets of attack by both protesters and government. Presenting the report in Abuja, the Executive Director, Citizen Advocacy for Social and Economic Right, Frank Tietie, said such actions would bring back unpleasant memories of the long tenure of military rule and the established culture of intolerance against the media.
The report said Nigeria was witnessing actions that sought to undermine the profession by both state and non-state actors. According to the report, Nigeria was fast gaining notoriety for its failure to tackle impunity for crimes against journalists including killings.
The report also said clamping down on the media was a sign of weak democracy and a restive government.
