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Amidst the struggle for press freedom in Nigeria, the Press Attack Tracker (PAT)—a technological innovation by the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID)—is helping journalists tackle escalating threats by recording and verifying instances of press freedom violations.
Adebayo Aare, the project associate for CJID’s Media Freedom programme, said the country’s growing issue of press violations prompted the need for the initiative.
“We needed a tool that could not only track these incidents but also provide a historical record that could help us understand the patterns and scale of the problem,” he said. “PAT is helping us to understand the full scope of the threats journalists face and provides a concrete record that can be used to hold perpetrators accountable,” he added.
Since its launch in 2019, PAT has documented real-time incidents and curated historical data, shedding light on journalists’ enduring challenges, ranging from unlawful arrests to physical violence.
“We have a constitution [Section 22] that puts the obligation of accountability on the press in Nigeria. However, that same constitution does not have an express provision that defines circumstances which guarantee journalists’ protection, or what should happen if and when their rights are violated,” said Busola Ajibola, the deputy director of CJID’s Journalism programme.
For instance, Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist at the Foundation of Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was arrested in May 2024 for an investigative report in which he exposed a presidential aide for allegedly misappropriating N147.1 million (approximately $106,154) intended for public projects.
The uproar that followed his arrest—two days before the World Press Freedom Day celebration—sparked discussion over media advocacy violations in Nigeria. “I was detained for simply doing my job—holding power to account. The experience was harrowing but even more alarming was how easily these violations could be swept under the rug without proper documentation,” he recounted.
The ordeal deeply impacted his reflections on press freedom in Nigeria. He said the arrest reinforced his belief that Nigeria’s press freedom is largely superficial. “You either have press freedom, or you don’t—there’s no middle ground. The fact that such gross violations can occur with little to no immediate repercussions highlights our systemic issues,” he said.
The tracker and interventions from civil society organisations nationwide and beyond were crucial in securing Mr Ojukwu’s release. “The Press Attack Tracker and CJID’s relentless campaign for my freedom were instrumental. CJID’s efforts in amplifying the violation and ensuring it was documented brought significant pressure on the authorities, even from international organisations, making it impossible for them to ignore,” he explained.
He further described the tracker’s contribution to upholding press freedom in the country. “[The tracker] simplifies the data and helps put information in front of the government, holding a mirror up to them,” he said. “When incidents are documented and easily accessible, it shapes policymaking and advocacy decisions, ensuring these violations are not ignored.”
How the Tracker operates
With over 1,200 documented cases since Dele Giwa’s murder, the first renowned case in 1986, PAT has been instrumental in establishing the severity of press freedom violations and advocating for necessary reforms.
Initially, journalists and witnesses report violations directly through the website or email, ensuring the tracker’s data accuracy and update. “We then contact victims or their employers, gather all available evidence, and store it securely before documenting the incidents,” Mr Aare said.
Once the violation is established, advocacy on the affected journalist’s safety begins in alliance with the Coalition for Whistleblower Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF), a Nigerian consortium of 27 newsrooms and civil society organisations (CSOs), to which CJID serves as secretariat.
On such occasions, Ms Ajibola revealed that the coalition would issue a unified press statement condemning such violations or demanding justice for the affected. Beyond that, CJID also provides psychosocial support and covers medical expenses incurred by journalists who experience physical attacks. Other interventions the organisation adopts through its Media Freedom Project include supporting newsrooms with safety kits during critical moments like election periods.
Going forward, PAT intends to employ a dual approach to gather and verify data, where the tracker can leverage AI tools that automatically scrape the Internet for cases of press attacks. Such findings will then be subjected to a rigorous verification process. “We believe this will help capture incidents that go undetected and are not documented,” she said.
Identifying regional disparities and insights into the nature and frequency of attacks is crucial for journalists, media organisations, and policymakers working to improve press freedom. Though the South-South records more press freedom violations, PAT documented more severe violations in the South-west, establishing the region as a hotspot for journalists to practice their profession. “Lagos alone accounts for eight verified deaths out of 167 documented attacks, making it the most dangerous location for journalists in Nigeria,” Aare said.
“We also need to recognise that male and female journalists may experience these incidents differently,” Ms Ajibola said. “For instance, female journalists often face additional challenges like sexual harassment during such assaults, which is rarely captured or documented. Verbal assaults against them denigrate their femininity, and they sometimes contend with sextortion—where sources demand sex in exchange for information.”
Despite the complexity of understanding the nuances of gender-based violation and intervention, the tracker has documented 56 cases of attacks against female journalists.
Since its launch, the tracker has gained recognition as a reliable resource. Prominent journalists and publications reference the tracker, reinforcing its role in the fight for press freedom. The Washington Post recently used the tracker to record over 31 cases of attacks—including 11 arrests—against Nigerian journalists during the nationwide August #EndBadGovernance protest alone in the country. As documented on the tracker, the number increased to 67 cases when the protest ended.
Aare said, “PAT has become a trusted resource within the journalism community. It’s not just about documenting attacks; it’s about using that data to provide evidential insights that can drive change and ensure journalists’ safety.”
With support from the Netherlands Embassy, CJID is also establishing the Voice Index to measure press freedom in Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). “We are still looking at accessing more support from national and international organisations whose work revolves around protecting democratic values and recognises the press’s central role in achieving this,” Ajibola said.
Challenges and future directions
Despite its achievements, the tool faces challenges, including delays in verifying and documenting attacks. “Sometimes it takes days for us to learn about an attack, which can slow down the documentation process,” Aare acknowledged. To address this, CJID has introduced a dedicated phone line [+2347060794989] for direct reporting, aiming to make the process more immediate and efficient.
“PAT is already making a significant impact,” Aare concluded. “With continued updates and expansions, it will become an even more powerful tool for protecting journalists and preserving press freedom in Nigeria—and beyond.”
Looking ahead, CJID intends to expand the success of its Media Freedom initiatives, including curating homegrown forensic data on patterns of press freedom violations across Africa and providing adequate responses to journalists needing diverse support.
“Our hope is for a future where the government takes the press very seriously and adopts all necessary measures to protect it, including legal reforms and other judiciary interventions at the national and regional level. We also envisage a future where the press fully evolves into an institution that works within the boundaries of journalistic ethics and responsibility,” Ajibola said.
