Nigeria / Africa

  
CrossRiverWatch journalist Agba Jalingo (right) is seen in a federal high court in Calabar, Nigeria. Jalingo is due in court tomorrow on amended charges of cybercrime and terrorism. (Oto-Obongo Clement/CrossRiverWatch)

Nigerian court grants anonymity to witnesses testifying against journalist Agba Jalingo

New York, October 24, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed concern over a Nigerian court’s decision to grant anonymity to witnesses set to testify against journalist Agba Jalingo and deny the public access to the courtroom during the trial.

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Hamza Idris (left), an editor with the Daily Trust newspaper, sits with colleague Hussaini Garba Mohammed in their office in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, in February 2019. The office was raided in January by the military, who seized 24 computers. (CPJ/Jonathan Rozen)

Nigerian military targeted journalists’ phones, computers with “forensic search” for sources

Hamza Idris, an editor with the Nigerian Daily Trust, was at the newspaper’s central office on January 6 when the military arrived looking for him. Soldiers with AK47s walked between the newsroom desks repeating his name, he told CPJ. It was the second raid on the paper that day; the first hit the bureau based…

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People look at front pages at a newspaper stand in Port Harcourt, after Nigeria's presidential election results were announced on February 27, 2019. Nigerian police beat two Inspiration FM journalists after covering a protest in Uyo, in Akwa-Ibom State, on September 24, 2019. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)

Nigerian police beat two Inspiration FM journalists after covering protest in Uyo

Owoidoho Udofia and Okodi Okodi, two journalists with the privately owned Inspiration FM radio station in Akwa-Ibom State, in southern Nigeria, on September 24, 2019, were forced by police to take off their shirts and roll on the ground, and were beaten with sticks after covering a protest in Uyo, the state capital, according to…

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Police officers are seen in Lagos, Nigeria, on August 5, 2019. Lagos police recently arrested publisher Agba Jalingo, who has been charged by federal authorities with treason. (AP/Sunday Alamba)

Nigerian publisher Agba Jalingo charged with treason

Abuja, September 5, 2019 — Nigerian authorities should drop all charges against publisher Agba Jalingo, release him from detention, and stop using the country’s state security laws to harass government critics, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Police are seen in Abuja, Nigeria, on July 23, 2019. Nigerian publisher Agba Jalingo has been detained since August 22 without charge. (Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde)

Nigerian publisher Agba Jalingo detained since August 22 without charge

Abuja, August 28, 2019 – Nigerian authorities should immediately release publisher Agba Jalingo and halt their harassment of journalists reporting on alleged corruption and other issues of public interest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Police officers pull a journalist during an anti-government protest in Lagos, Nigeria, on August 5, 2019. At least four journalists were detained during the protests. (Reuters/Nneka Chile)

Police in Nigeria assault, arrest journalists covering #RevolutionNow protests

On August 5, 2019, Nigerian police arrested and detained at least four journalists covering protests that took place across Nigeria in connection with the hashtag #RevolutionNow, according to journalists who spoke with CPJ and media reports.

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Members of National Youth Service Corp carry the body of their colleague, the reporter Precious Owolabi, in Abuja on July 23. Owolabi was shot while covering protests in the Nigeria capital. (AFP/Kola Sulaimon)

Channels TV reporter dies from injuries after shooting at Nigeria protest

New York, July 25, 2019–Nigerian authorities should immediately investigate the death of Precious Owolabi, a reporter for the privately owned Channels TV, who was shot during a protest in Abuja on July 22, and ensure those responsible are held to account.

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The Federal High Court in Lagos, Nigeria, is seen on May 8, 2018. Journalist Jones Abiri is set to attend a hearing at the high court in Abuja on cybercrime, anti-sabotage, and terrorism charges. (Reuters/Akintunde Akinleye)

CPJ calls for charges to be dropped against Nigerian journalist Jones Abiri

New York, June 27, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today urged Nigerian authorities to release journalist Jones Abiri and drop cybercrime, anti-sabotage, and terrorism charges against him.

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Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad officers are seen in Kano, Nigeria, on February 23, 2019. Journalist Kofi Bartels told CPJ he was recently assaulted and threatened by anti-robbery officers. (AFP/Pius Utomi Ekpei)

Nigerian journalist Kofi Bartels says police beat him, threatened him with sexual assault

New York, June 6, 2019 — Nigerian authorities must investigate and hold accountable the police officers responsible for allegedly assaulting and threatening journalist Kofi Bartels, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Nigerian journalist Jones Abiri, left, and Alagoa Morris, pictured in Abuja after Abiri's release from detention in 2018. A court on May 22, 2019 charged Abiri on three counts and ordered him detained. (Alagoa Morris)

Nigeria charges Weekly Source editor Jones Abiri under cybercrimes, terrorism acts

Berlin, May 22, 2019 –A federal court today charged Jones Abiri, the publisher and editor-in -chief of the Weekly Source, under Nigeria’s cybercrimes act, anti-sabotage act, and terrorism prevention act for crimes allegedly carried out in 2016, and ordered the journalist to be detained, according to his lawyer, Samuel Ogala, and charge documents seen by…

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