Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has documented 86 incidents of attacks against journalists, media houses and citizens in its 2025 annual report on Freedom of Expression in Nigeria, painting a grim picture of a shrinking civic space marked by impunity and weak accountability.

The 147-page report, titled The Reign of Impunity, recorded violations of media freedom and freedom of expression across 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with none of the cases resulting in a successful investigation or prosecution, even where criminal offences were alleged.

According to the report, arrests and detentions were the most common form of attack, with 38 cases accounting for over 44 per cent of all recorded incidents. Physical violence followed closely, with 21 cases of assault and battery representing more than 24 per cent of the total.

The report also recorded two killings — one involving a journalist who died in the line of duty and another involving a woman murdered over alleged blasphemy — alongside one case of kidnapping and the shutdown of a media outlet.

MRA identified the Nigeria Police Force as the leading perpetrator of violations, linked to 41 incidents, nearly 48 per cent of all attacks. The Department of State Services (DSS) was ranked second, accounting for about seven per cent of cases, with the two agencies together responsible for over 50 per cent of all documented violations.

Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, recorded the highest number of incidents, with 16 and 14 attacks respectively.

The report highlighted emerging trends, including the continued “weaponisation” of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act of 2015, as amended, against journalists and government critics, as well as the growing use of digital surveillance tools and spyware to monitor media practitioners.

It also noted that security agencies often failed to investigate attacks on journalists and, in some cases, ignored assaults by non-state actors even while present. The report further said journalists were frequently targeted during the suppression of peaceful protests and demonstrations.

In a preface to the report, MRA’s Executive Director, Mr Edetaen Ojo, said that despite rapid changes in the media landscape driven by digital technologies, journalists continued to face deeply entrenched political, legal, economic and social challenges.