Nigeria Summit Promotes Dialogue Over Arrests for Journalists

Security agencies and journalists in Nigeria are sitting down together to find a better way forward.

The Nigerian Union of Journalists hosted a groundbreaking two-day summit in June, bringing together reporters, security officers, and government ministers to address rising tensions. The State Security Service co-organized the event, signaling genuine willingness to reform how disputes get resolved.

Musikilu Mojeed, President of IPI Nigeria, delivered a powerful message at the gathering. He urged security agencies to abandon arrests, detention, and intimidation as tools for managing disagreements with journalists.

"Democratic societies possess sufficient mechanisms to address disagreements between the media and the state," Mojeed explained. He pointed to dialogue platforms, professional accountability structures, and judicial processes as proven alternatives that work without coercion.

The summit addressed a real problem. Between 2023 and early 2026, at least 412 attacks were reported against journalists and media houses in Nigeria, according to press freedom tracking data.

Mojeed acknowledged that tensions between journalists and security agencies are natural because both pursue different objectives. The key is managing those tensions responsibly rather than trying to eliminate them entirely.

"Security without accountability risks secrecy and abuse, while freedom without security cannot be meaningfully sustained," he stated. Both institutions strengthen society when they work together.

Why This Inspires

The summit represents something bigger than just one meeting. Ministers of Information and Defense sent representatives, showing government commitment to change.

Security officers attended alongside journalists, creating rare face-to-face opportunities for understanding. These conversations build the trust that makes collaboration possible.

Nigeria ranked 112th in the World Press Freedom Index, but this summit shows leaders choosing a different path. When powerful institutions choose dialogue over force, they model democracy at its best.

The event demonstrates that even longstanding conflicts can shift when both sides commit to better solutions. Alternative dispute resolution channels already exist, waiting to be used more effectively.

IPI Nigeria pledged continued support for both press freedom and national security, recognizing that neither can thrive without the other. A society grows strongest when citizens can trust both the institutions protecting them and those holding power accountable.