IPC Condemns Escalating Clampdown on Press Freedom in Nigeria

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The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria, through its Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub, has strongly condemned the growing trend of attacks and repression against journalists and media practitioners in Nigeria.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the IPC SPJ-Hub raised concerns over what it described as a sustained clampdown on press freedom, backed by recent findings from its press freedom monitoring database covering January to June 2025. The organization cited three particularly alarming incidents between June and July as indicative of the disturbing pattern.

One of the cases involved the continued detention of Dr. Tekena Amieyeofori, a former journalist with Africa Independent Television (AIT) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Dr. Amieyeofori is being held by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), reportedly in connection with a corruption report involving the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

In a related case, investigative journalist Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed is currently in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Kwara State Police Command in Ilorin. His arrest followed his public condemnation of a violent attack on peaceful protesters.

Most disturbing, according to IPC, is the murder of photojournalist Ayo Aiyepekun of Inside Story, who was killed on July 22 at his residence in Lokoja, Kogi State. The residence also served as the office for the media outlet.

Reacting to the incidents, Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, expressed deep concern over the erosion of press freedom in Nigeria. “We are deeply worried about the continuous clampdown on press freedom under this present administration,” Arogundade said. “The restrictions on journalists’ ability to carry out their obligation and regular violations of their constitutional rights is highly condemnable. These incidents clearly reflect a lack of commitment to the President’s pledge to tolerate criticism, as stated in his Democracy Day broadcast.”

The IPC-SPJ Hub has called for immediate and thorough investigations into all reported assaults on journalists and an end to the persistent violations targeting media professionals.

“The importance of a free press to a healthy democracy cannot be overemphasized,” the statement concluded, reaffirming IPC’s commitment to protecting journalists and advocating for media freedom in Nigeria.

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