Freedom of Expression
Veteran journalist, activist beaten and arrested
On 24th October 2025, political activist Omoyele Sowore, a veteran journalist and publisher of SaharaReporters, known for his critical stance towards the Nigerian government, was re-arrested in Abuja immediately after being granted bail by a court in the federal capital. He was earlier arrested for his role in the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest on 20th October 2025 (see Peaceful Assembly). However, the second arrest took place outside the Kuje Magistrate Court, Abuja, after he was granted bail. As Sowore was leaving the court, police beat and dragged him to the ground, and forcefully took him to Kuje Prison. Sowore was reportedly arrested again due to his claims that President Bola Tinubu is a criminal. Oodua People’s Congress and the Take it Back Movement criticised the arrest, describing it as illegal and a violation of free speech.
Journalist verbally assaulted
On 27th August 2025, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Kayode Opeifa, allegedly harassed and verbally assaulted Nigerian Television Authority transport reporter and former President of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ladi Bala. The journalist was covering the aftermath of a train derailment along the Abuja–Kaduna railway line. Eyewitnesses reported that Opeifa interrupted Bala’s live coverage, verbally attacked her, and instructed security personnel to remove her from the scene. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and NAWOJ denounced the incident, describing Opeifa’s actions as demeaning and a violation of press freedom. Both unions reaffirmed their solidarity with Bala and emphasised that continued intimidation of journalists undermines democracy, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria.
Detention of investigative reporter in Ekiti State
On 9th September 2025, the Ekiti State Police Command detained Sodeeq Atanda, a senior reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), in Ado-Ekiti. His arrest followed a petition by Professor Abayomi Fasina, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, who accused him of cyberbullying, blackmail, and criminal defamation after FIJ published a report implicating Fasina in a case of misconduct. Atanda was held for over eight hours on the orders of the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, during which he was reportedly pressured to reveal his sources, a violation of journalistic ethics and press freedom. During his detention, Atanda was allegedly subjected to degrading treatment, including being forced to walk barefoot within the police premises. He was released after several hours in custody. Police have summoned FIJ’s publisher, Fisayo Soyombo, to appear for questioning, which was seen as an attempt to intimidate and suppress investigative reporting.
The International Press Centre (IPC) strongly condemned the detention, describing it as an attack on press freedom and democracy. IPC’s Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, urged the police to stop allowing elites to use law enforcement to silence journalists.
Journalist arrested for reporting on situation in healthcare
On 10th September 2025, journalist Hassan Mai-Waya Kangiwa was arrested in Kebbi State after releasing a viral video exposing the deplorable conditions at Kangiwa General Hospital. Patients were seen lying on bare metal beds without mattresses. The footage, which sparked public outrage and widespread debate on social media, drew attention to the chronic neglect in the state’s healthcare system. Reports indicated that Governor Nasiru Idris ordered the arrest of the journalist, a move that many described as an attempt to suppress the truth, rather than address the systemic failures exposed in the video.
Media watchdog groups, activists, and citizens alike criticised the government’s actions, arguing that punishing the journalist, instead of improving hospital conditions, sends a concerning message to the media and undermines public trust in the state.
Investigative journalist and activist detained
The Media Foundation for West Africa condemned the 10th July arrest of journalist Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed and activist Saidu Musa Tsaragi on charges of defamation. They were arrested for criticising a crackdown on protesters during a 9th July demonstration, when Nigerians in Kwara State called for the authorities to take action on the worrisome security situation in the country, following a number of kidnappings. Police confiscated phones and forced protesters to delete video of the crackdown on the protest.
Investigative journalist assaulted
In September 2025, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MWFA) documented the assault of Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism. Police reportedly attacked and threatened the journalist after he had gone to the Lagos State Police Command to investigate allegations of police extortion of detainees. The MWFA called for an investigation into the incident and for those responsible for the attack to be held accountable.
Private radio station forced to close
In July 2025, the state governor of Minna, Niger State ordered the closure of the private radio station, Badeggi Radio. The radio station was accused of “promoting violence”, according to the Media Foundation for West Africa report. The Nigeria Union of Journalists responded to the closure by asserting that the power to shut down a media outlet does not lie with the state governor, and can only be done via court order.
Freedom of Association
Security service attempts to close activist’s social media accounts
On 6th September 2025, the Department of State Services in Nigeria requested that X Corp (formerly Twitter) remove a post and deactivate the account of Omoyele Sowore, veteran journalist and activist (see Expression). The activist had referred to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal”. The State Service also contacted Meta to remove Facebook posts made by the activist for allegedly spreading “falsehoods”. The authorities referred to the Criminal Code, CyberCrimes Act, and Prevention and Prohibition of Terrorism Act to justify the attempts to close the accounts and prevent the activist from engaging on social media.
Peaceful Assembly
Police disperse #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protesters in Abuja
On 20th October 2025, Nigerian police forcefully dispersed a protest organised in several neighbourhoods of Abuja as part of the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow campaign. Demonstrators advocated for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the banned separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra, which has sought independence for Nigeria’s southeastern region. Kanu was arrested in 2015. He secured bail in 2017 and was arrested again in 2021 and kept in detention. On 26th September 2025, a court rejected Kanu’s request to be set free on the grounds of a lack of substantive evidence against him. The court ruled that prosecutors had presented enough evidence for Kanu to face terrorism charges, as brought forward by the government.
During the 20th October protest, demonstrators gathered around the Nigeria Communications Commission headquarters in Maitama, though a federal court had earlier ruled that the protestors should refrain from organising near state buildings. Security forces responded with tear gas, water cannon, and armoured vehicles to disperse the crowd. The Nigeria Union of Journalists and Amnesty International condemned the excessive use of force on demonstrators, demanding accountability and respect for the right to peaceful assembly.