Nigeria Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

Nigerian journalists barred, threatened for covering trial

November 20, 2013 4:49 PM EST

Armed state security agents on October 24, 2013, in the commercial capital, Lagos, barred journalists from covering the arraignment of 17 suspected members of the Boko Haram militant group on charges of conspiracy to commit terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and being members of a proscribed organization, according to news reports.

Nigeria attacks news websites for their news coverage

October 2, 2013 10:35 AM EDT

The Nigerian government on September 27, 2013, accused two leading independent online news websites–the Abuja-based Premium Times and the New York-based Sahara Reporters–of publishing frequent reports that “incite mutiny” within the military and undermine ongoing military operations against terrorist activities in northern Nigeria, according to news reports.

Government official publicly whips Nigerian journalist

July 31, 2013 3:50 PM EDT

An identified State Security Service agent publicly flogged a reporter on July 3, 2013, while he was on an official visit to the Benue State Government House to deliver a press invitation to the state governor’s chief of staff, according to news reports.

Authorities re-filed forgery charges against these two Leadership journalists. (Courtesy Leadership)

Nigeria re-files charges against Leadership journalists

June 27, 2013 4:59 PM EDT

Abuja, Nigeria, June 27, 2013–Nigerian authorities should stop the legal harassment of journalists in connection with a critical story about President Goodluck Jonathan’s political plans, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. A reporter and editor for the Nigerian daily Leadership, and a representative of the Leadership parent company, were arraigned in court today and…

Nigeria’s impunity ranking: The facts don’t lie

May 3, 2013 5:35 PM EDT

Nigeria’s press freedom record is on the decline. For the first time since 2008, when CPJ began publishing its annual Impunity Index, Nigeria has made the list of the “worst nations in the world for deadly, unpunished violence against the press.”

CPJ calls on African Union to uphold press freedom

May 2, 2013 2:40 PM EDT

Dear Chairperson Zuma: We ask that you mark World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2013, by calling for the release of all journalists imprisoned in Africa and appealing for justice in the murders of journalists killed in the line of duty.

Getting Away With Murder

May 2, 2013 12:01 AM EDT

CPJ’s 2013 Impunity Index spotlights countries where journalists are slain and the killers go free

Two journalists with a daily paper in Nigeria have been charged with forgery. (Courtesy Leadership)

Nigerian journalists could face life in jail on forgery charges

April 19, 2013 3:13 PM EDT

Lagos, Nigeria, April 19, 2013–Two Nigerian journalists and their employer have been charged with forgery in connection with their publication of a memo reported to be from President Goodluck Jonathan, according to news reports. If convicted, the journalists could face life terms.

Nigeria bans film on oil corruption, warns director

April 17, 2013 2:34 PM EDT

Lagos, Nigeria, April 17, 2013–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a recent decision by the Nigerian government to ban the exhibition and distribution of a documentary film on corruption in the state’s management of oil wealth, “Fuelling Poverty.”

The office of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said a memo published by Leadership newspaper was fictitious. (AP/Sunday Alamba)

Nigeria police harass Leadership staff over memo

April 10, 2013 5:39 PM EDT

Lagos, Nigeria, April 10, 2013–Nigerian police should stop harassing the staff of the leading independent daily Leadership over a story critical of President Goodluck Jonathan, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On Monday, police in the capital Abuja summoned four Leadership journalists for questioning over an April 3 story entitled “Outrage Trails Presidential Directive…