Nigeria: Five Women Journalists Attacked on Election Day - CFWIJ Calls For Investigation

Location: Nigeria, Abuja
Date: March 29, 2023

Attacks by unknown assailants against at least 28 journalists prevented them from carrying out their duties during Nigeria’s presidential elections. Bolanle Olabimtan, Ajayi Adebola, Ima Elijah, Henrietta Oke and Nkiru Nwokedi were among the assaulted journalists. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns vicious attempts to silence free media. We demand an investigation is conducted against the perpetrators. 

"They came and took my phone, went through my private chats, deleted pictures and videos, searched my entire gallery, checked my official and election group chats. They went on my Instagram, checked my feed and private DMs. They threatened me and this was under the rain and I was shivering," said journalist Bolanle Olabimtan in an interview with TheCable. 

Olabimtan is one of at least five women journalists covering the 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria who faced harassment during Nigeria’s second round of elections on March 18. 

• Ima Elijah, reporter Pulse.ng, and her camera operator. Harassed and forced out of a polling unit by unidentified individuals in Ikeja. According to a report and Instagram video by the outlet, the people insisted that the elections at that polling unit should not be reported by the media. 

• Henrietta Oke, AIT correspondent. Unidentified people chased her out of a polling station in Lagos. 

• Nkiru Nwokedi, AIT correspondent. Unidentified people confiscated Nwokedi's phone at a polling unit in Lagos. The device was returned 20 minutes later following intervention from community leaders, according to an IPC statement and Nwokedi, who spoke to CPJ. 

• Bolanle Olabimtan, reporter at TheCable. Security personnel and political activists attacked the journalist. Olabimtan was injured at a polling unit in Delta State. Her phone was seized, and voters were chased away from the premises. 

• Ajayi Adebola, reporter, People's Gazette. Unidentified people seized Adebola’s phone, content deleted at a polling site in Lagos. Some of the men wore All Progressives Congress — a major political party — vests.

In 2022, the federal government acknowledged journalists are often victims of violence during elections and committed to end it. Despite this commitment, no measures have been taken and journalists continue to be harassed in the course of their duties. For example, in November 2022, Mary Chinda, a journalist with Arise News, was injured after armed assailants attacked Atiku Abubakar's convoy, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming 2023 elections in Nigeria.

The media landscape remains dangerous, especially for independent media covering sensitive topics, such as politics, terrorism, or abuse of power. Journalists are often threatened and victims of violence and attacks. They are also often denied access to vital information.

Online harassment has been a growing concern and the discriminatory culture present within society has led to increased online attacks against women journalists.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism vehemently denounces the attacks on Bolanle Olabimtan, Ajayi Adebola, Ima Elijah, Henrietta Oke and Nkiru Nwokedi, and others. We demand a thorough investigation of the incidents. The Nigerian government must take immediate measures to ensure that journalists are not targeted and threatened. Journalism is not a crime. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.