By Martha Agas
An NGO, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) says attacks on female journalists often go unreported and unpunished.
MRA’s Executive Director, Edetaen Ojo, stated this at a two-day workshop on the safety of female journalists on Tuesday in Abuja.
Ojo stated that women whether in Newsrooms, on the field, or online, were confronted with harassment, intimidation, the risk of sexual violence, cyberbullying, and other targeted abuses.
He said that such attacks undermined not only their safety, but also the right of all Nigerians to receive information from diverse and independent sources and perspectives.
“When a woman in journalism is forced out of her profession by abuse, we lose not only her perspective but the diversity and depth that should be an intrinsic feature of the media landscape.
“Protecting female journalists is therefore, not just a matter of human rights or gender equity, it is also a matter of media freedom, democracy, and public interest, “ he explained.
Ojo said the workshop was organised against the backdrop of an increasingly hostile environment for journalists, particularly female journalists who face unique, gender-specific threats and attacks.
According to him, attacks on journalists, including physical assaults, arbitrary or unlawful arrests, and online harassment, not only endanger individual media workers but also undermine media freedom, democracy and the public’s right to information.
He expressed concern that in Nigeria, such incidents were widespread and rarely brought to justice, as most perpetrators act with impunity and were usually not held accountable.
“This persistent culture of non-accountability in turn discourages journalists from pursuing justice and emboldens attackers.
“Yet, Nigeria’s legal and institutional framework offer several avenues for reporting these attacks and seeking redress.
“ We believe that the effective use of these channels requires knowledge of the available mechanisms, an understanding of the processes involved, and the ability to navigate potential obstacles, “he said.
Ojo said the workshop sought to explore legal and institutional avenues available to journalists and media organisations, and how these could be used to combat impunity and enhance journalist safety.
“Our aim is to understand the problems deeply, to bring to the surface the lived realities and experiences of female journalists in Nigeria and to design practical, actionable strategies for prevention, protection, and redress.
“We also want this gathering to fuel advocacy and policy reform, improve newsroom practices, and build solidarity networks that will keep us and our colleagues safe.
“Such intensive advocacy has become necessary in the light of the reluctance of Governments in Nigeria to take measures to ensure the safety of journalists, even in disobedience of court orders, “ he said.
Ojo said the workshop would focus on three priorities: preventing attacks on female journalists, ensuring their protection, and holding perpetrators of these attacks accountable, which required concerted efforts to achieve.
In her presentation on `Gendered Attacks on Female Journalists in Nigeria`, Mrs Blessing Oladunjoye described such attacks as a systemic pattern targeting women for their gender and profession to silence their voices in the media.
Oladunjoye urged media organisations to strengthen institutional accountability and adopt policies that protect journalists from gender-based violence, adding that open dialogue promotes better safeguards, support systems, and reporting mechanisms.
Similarly, MRA’s Project Officer, Ayomide Eweje, urged female journalists to be intentional on planning for their physical and digital safety in the course of their duties.
She urged them to advocate organisational safety measures tailored to their specific needs and for the provision of insurance policies to protect journalist.
