The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria, has condemned in strong terms the reported attacks on journalists who were covering the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja on Monday, October 20, 2025.
In a statement issued through its Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub, the IPC said the journalists, who were performing their lawful duties, were subjected to various forms of assault — including unlawful arrest, confiscation of equipment, and destruction of property.
According to information gathered by the IPC-SPJ Hub, the protest, led by activist Omoyele Sowore, demanded the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Journalists covering the demonstration, however, became targets of aggression from law enforcement officers.
Among those affected was a Business Day media crew consisting of Tony Ailemen, Tunde Adeniyi, Ladi Patrick-Okwoli, and Michael Godwin, who narrowly escaped death when police fired tear gas at their vehicle. The tear gas shattered the windshield while the team was conducting on-the-spot interviews.
Similarly, two Agence France Presse (AFP) journalists, John Okunyomih and Nicholas Roll, were reportedly arrested by police operatives after officers fired tear gas in their direction. Their phones, cameras, and other work gadgets were confiscated.
Reacting to the incidents, the Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, described the attacks as a “disturbing recurrence of history,” stressing that no journalist should be subjected to violence or harassment while carrying out legitimate duties.
“The rights of journalists to cover and report protests and other societal activities as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution and other legal frameworks have not been respected as expected,” Arogundade said.
He called on the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant authorities to investigate the incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice, warning that continued attacks on journalists threaten press freedom and democratic accountability in Nigeria.
