On World Press Freedom Day, Nigerian Journalists Fight for Survival in a Shrinking Space for Truth
By Olatunde Marolan and Segun Onibiyo
(LAGOS) – On this year’s World Press Freedom Day, May 3, there are no fireworks or festivities in Nigeria’s newsrooms. Instead, there is tension—tinged with resilience—as journalists across the country reflect not on their triumphs, but on their survival.
Luka Binniyat knows this better than most. The Kaduna-based reporter, once celebrated for his fearless coverage of Christian persecution in Nigeria’s north, emerged in 2022 from another stint in prison—his second in two years. His offense? Publishing a story critical of government authorities. His punishment? A dirty cell shared with cockroaches and rats.
“They can jail our bodies,” Binniyat once said, “but not our pens.”
Across Nigeria, journalism has become an act of defiance. Reporters such as Steven Kefas, who was jailed for his tweets about attacks in Southern Kaduna, and Segun Onibiyo, a federal broadcaster known for his commentary on religious and ethnic violence, are constant targets of state surveillance, intimidation, and arrest.
As the global media marks the 2025 World Press Freedom Day under the theme “Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press and Media Freedom,” Nigeria finds itself in a contradictory place: journalists here are more afraid of human oppression than of artificial intelligence.
“Freedom in Nigeria is Conditional”
Veteran journalist Kadaria Ahmed summarized the mood aptly: “Freedom of the press in Nigeria is not guaranteed. It is conditional on your silence.”
Journalists now operate under a persistent shadow of fear. They self-censor to avoid arrest or lawsuits. Publishing stories on corruption, military abuse, or religious violence can result in abduction, job loss, or worse.
Former Daily Trust Editor-in-Chief Mannir Dan-Ali is even more blunt: “AI is the least of our problems. What threatens Nigerian journalism more is a government that sees reporters as enemies of the state, not as protectors of democracy.”
Reuben Abati, broadcaster and former presidential spokesman, issues a broader warning: “When the media is under attack, democracy is on life support. What’s happening in Nigeria is not just a national crisis—it’s a dangerous message to authoritarian governments around the world.”
A Grim Record
The numbers tell a disturbing story. Since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, at least 20 journalists have been killed. Over 100 have been harassed, abducted, or imprisoned—most of them in the last two decades. In 2023 alone, watchdog groups recorded 17 incidents of journalist detention, assault, or cybercrime prosecution.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, press freedom appears to be shrinking even further. Journalists investigating corruption or religious extremism face state retaliation. New legislation aimed at combating “fake news” is increasingly being used to muzzle dissent.
AI: A Promise or a Threat?
This year’s international theme touches on the role of artificial intelligence in journalism—an area of innovation and concern. AI holds enormous promise: automating research, improving fact-checking, and breaking language barriers. But in Nigeria, journalists worry that AI will be co-opted by the state to intensify surveillance, manipulate narratives, and target reporters.
The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) released a statement praising AI’s potential but emphasized restraint: “We must protect the core principles of journalism practice while embracing AI as a support tool for communication.”
Critics argue that the NBC itself has become a political instrument, regularly suspending or fining media houses that air stories unfavorable to the government.
Courage in the Trenches: TruthNigeria Leads the Way
Yet amid the crackdown, stories of bravery and integrity shine through.
Independent news outlet TruthNigeria has emerged as a beacon of bold, grassroots journalism. Its reporters have been widely recognized for their work in Nigeria’s most dangerous conflict zones, often venturing where even security forces hesitate.
On the “Going Rogue with Lara Logan” podcast, American investigative journalist Lara Logan opened her broadcast with rare praise:
“They’re not just reporting the story—they’re living it. These journalists are literally putting their lives on the line to tell the truth about what’s happening in Nigeria.”
She also said “The people who have brought the truth about Christian genocide in Nigeria to the world. The group of journalists who have done this are everything I ever aspired to be as a journalist and I have so much respect and regard for them I feel like at the moment in the world where journalism appears to be dying and people are so disillusioned, there’s a group of journalists in a forgotten corner of the world who are living in the breathing what it is to be great when you do this job the way it should be done.”
That truth-telling was on full display on February 24, when TruthNigeria reporters Mike Odey and Luka Binniyat located a group of abducted victims who had just been released in Rijana, Kaduna State. Instead of simply reporting on the rescue, the journalists drove the victim’s home to Karu, covering scores of miles of unsafe territory. Their act was more than journalism—it was humanitarian work.
In doing so, they supported the mission of Equipping the Persecuted, a U.S.-based NGO that provides aid and protection to Christian communities targeted by extremist violence. The moment marked a rare intersection of frontline journalism and field-based advocacy—one that challenged traditional notions of journalistic detachment.
Nigeria’s Press: A Global Bellwether
As Africa’s most populous country and largest democracy, Nigeria’s press freedom status has implications beyond its borders. The nation’s once-vibrant media landscape inspired movements in countries like Ghana, Uganda, and Kenya. But now, as states across Africa tighten controls over independent reporting, Nigeria’s decline threatens to embolden others.
“If Nigeria’s press collapses,” said Dan-Ali, “it sends a chilling signal to the rest of the continent—and to the world.”
The Last Word: Hope in Resistance
Despite the odds, Nigerian journalists continue to fight. Luka Binniyat, now back in the field, reports for TruthNigeria alongside Kefas and Onibiyo. Their voices may be quieter, their reach limited—but their resolve remains.
“There are only two kinds of journalists left in Nigeria,” says Onibiyo. “Those who’ve been arrested and those who are waiting their turn. But still—we write.”
Olatunde Molaran and Segun Onibiyo reports on terrorism and conflicts for TruthNigeria.
