IPC Condemns Attacks On Journalists Covering #FreeNnamdiKanuNow Protest 

… As Several Journalists Narrowly Escapes Death 

By Joseph Sunday 

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The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria, through its Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub has  condemned in strongest terms the reported attacks on journalists covering the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest on Monday October 20, 2025.

Information gathered by IPC-SPJ Hub and made public through the Press Freedom Officer of the IPC, Melody Akinjiyan revealed that journalists who were covering the protest, coordinated by Activist Omoyele Sowore, and demanding the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by the Federal Government, were faced with one form of attack or the other including unlawful arrest; confiscation of gadgets and equipments; damage to vehicle among others. 

According to the details documented and made available to media houses on Tuesday, the IPC-SPJ Hub revealed that, the Media crew of Business Day consisting of Tony Ailemen, Tunde Adeniyi, Ladi Patrick-Okwoli and Michael Godwin narrowly escaped death as Police fired teargas at their vehicle during the protest. 

The teargas fired by the Police was said to have shattered the windshield of the vehicle at the time the crew were conducting a voice pop on the protest.

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Also, Two (2) Agence France Presse (AFP) journalists, John Okunyomih and Nicholas Roll covering the protest were arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police. Their phones, cameras and other gadgets were confiscated by the Police officials. The Police had first fired tear gas at the reporters before arresting them.

The Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, in a statement described the attacks as a disturbing recurrence of history, stating that under no condition should journalists on legitimate duty be subject to attack by security agencies. 

“The rights of journalists to cover and report protests and other societal activities as guaranteed by the 1999 Nigeria Constitution and various regulatory frameworks have not been respected as expected”.

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Lanre Arogundade however called on all concerned security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

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