The International Press Centre (IPC), through its Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub, has condemned what it described as a disturbing rise in clampdowns on press freedom across Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Lagos, the IPC SPJ-Hub said data collected from its press freedom monitoring between January and June 2025 revealed an unrelenting trend of attacks on journalists and media practitioners. The centre cited three alarming incidents between June and July as evidence of the growing hostility towards the press.
The incidents include the prolonged detention of Dr. Tekena Amieyeofori, a former staff member of Africa Independent Television (AIT) in Port Harcourt, by the Department of State Services (DSS) over a report on alleged corruption in the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Another case involved Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed, an investigative journalist currently being held at the Kwara State Police CID in Ilorin for criticizing a violent crackdown on peaceful protesters. Most tragic of all, the Centre noted, was the brutal killing of Ayo Aiyepekun, a photojournalist with Inside Story, who was murdered on July 22 at his residence in Lokoja, Kogi State.
Reacting to the incidents, the Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, expressed deep concern over what he described as a “continuous clampdown on press freedom under this present administration.” He said the targeted harassment and repression of journalists contradicted President Tinubu’s Democracy Day pledge to accommodate criticism and uphold democratic principles.
The IPC SPJ-Hub called for thorough investigations into the violations and urged security agencies and government authorities to halt all forms of assault against journalists. It reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for a free and independent press as a cornerstone of democracy.
