Mid-term report by Media Rights Agenda (MRA)has documented 141 attacks on journalists, media workers, and ordinary citizens for the peaceful expression of their views on a variety of issue, including governance, economic hardship, the security situation in the country, among others.

MRA, in its report titled: ‘The Onslaught Intensifies: A Mid-term Assessment Report on Media Freedom under the Tinubu Administration’, between May 29, 2023, and May 29, 2025, stated that of these incidents, 61 cases (43.26 percent) were perpetrated by operatives of the Nigeria Police.

The Department of State Services (DSS) was responsible for seven cases (4.96 percent) with the two agencies collectively accounting for nearly half of all documented violations of media rights and freedom of expression across the country over the last two years.

It argued that the Tinubu Administration bore legal responsibility for all the incidents, in accordance with Principle 20(5) of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, which holds that States are “liable for the conduct of law enforcement, security, intelligence, military and other personnel.