The stifling of free speech in Cross River is not always overt, but its consequences are clear: fear, silence, and a shrinking civic space. It discourages critical reporting, undermines democracy, and leaves the most vulnerable without a voice
"Running a newsroom shouldn’t feel like operating a resistance cell,” Ugbal said. “But that’s what it’s come to. And still, we continue."
By Bankole Abe, The ICIR SEVERAL journalists based in Kaduna have shared accounts of alleged harassment, detention, and physical assault by security agencies – particularly the police – raising fresh concerns about press freedom and journalist safety in Nigeria. Their experiences, spanning years and multiple incidents, underscore the ongoing tensions between the media and law
By Abdullahi Muritala, ICIR INFORMANT247, a digital newsroom, has faced a troubling pattern of intimidation and harassment over exposing corruption in Kwara State. A notable example occurred in February 2024 when the Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic, Abdul Jimoh Muhammed, an engineer, filed a petition to the Kwara State police headquarters leading to the arrest
By Sylvia Akpan The Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID) is inviting Cross River State and Niger Delta foremost investigative media outfit, CrossRiverWatch to participate in a workshop centered on civic space. The Editor-in-chief of CrossRiverWatch, Citizen Agba Jalingo, will be speaking and sharing his expertise on Navigating Strategic Lawsuits and Press Freedom Challenges
By Sylvia Akpan The Agba Jalingo Foundation for Investigative and Accountability Journalism (AJFIAJ) is set to host a one-day symposium on “Journalism and Crossing The Cyber Crimes Hurdle” in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State. The event slated for January 2nd, 2025 will marry the birth date of CrossRiverWatch Publisher, Citizen Agba Jalingo as
Friday Olokor Gunmen suspected to be soldiers on Friday abducted the Editor of FirstNews and former Kaduna Bureau Chief of The PUNCH, Segun Olatunji. He was picked at his home in the Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos State. The management of the online Newspaper linked the action to a recent story published by
Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dear President Tinubu, We at the Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent nongovernmental organization that defends press freedom globally, write to request that your administration take swift and deliberate actions to improve conditions for the press in Nigeria. As you mark three months in