Our freedom relies on a free press, and if the press is restricted, we will lose our freedom. However even with this knowledge, the decline of media freedom and the rise in threats of journalists remains a global issue that affects pressmen in every sphere, including the University of Ibadan. The 2023 World Press Freedom Index, shows that more than half of 180 countries were unsafe for journalists and in the 2024 index, Nigeria ranked 112th. With journalists in the country having to face great forms of suppression including intimidation violence.
As if following in its footsteps, the University of Ibadan and the actions of many that make up its community have subjected the Union of Campus Journalist to violence and intimidation. These acts of intimidation did not just start as in fact there had been precedent to the current trends. These precedents were in the form online attack, threats and insults. The Union of Campus Journalist is the mother body of all Local Press Organizations in the University of Ibadan, an organisation made up of student journalists who serve as watchdogs to various stakeholders in the university community.
The press plays a crucial role in any democratic society, and within our university setting, the UCJ serves as a watchdog for accountability, transparency, and an advocate for student rights. A free and independent press ensures that those who are directly and indirectly linked to student welfare are held responsible for their actions. By exposing injustices, highlighting policy failures, and amplifying student concerns, campus journalists help create an environment where integrity and fairness can thrive. Beyond accountability, the press is essential for keeping students informed about university politics, policies, and decisions that affect their academic and social lives. From student union elections to administrative policies on fees, accommodations, and security, journalism has provided a platform for discussions on these topics, while keeping students informed. Without a functioning press, misinformation, and abuse of power will continue unchecked. The Union of Campus Journalists and all of its Local Press Organizations have repeatedly carried out these roles mentioned, ensuring that social justice prevails in the university community. However this is more often than not met with an attempt to censor the press. Perhaps, the gravity of the claims of press intimidation in the university of Ibadan will be fully grasped until actual case scenario are presented
To Begin:
On February 22, 2025, the University of Ibadan (UI) held its Students’ Union elections, an event that underscored the essential role of campus journalists as watchdogs. These journalists diligently reported on electoral discrepancies and incidents of violence. However, their commitment to unbiased reporting was met with significant challenges, including threats and physical intimidation. A particularly alarming incident occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall (Zik Hall). Following the publication of a report highlighting the hall warden’s unconventional election mobilization messages, UCJUI reporters faced immediate backlash. The Zik Hall Chairman responded by removing these reporters from the hall’s WhatsApp group and issued veiled threats concerning their future accommodation prospects. He remarked, “Any press wey dem born well make e dey find accommodation next year,” implying that campus journalists covering the hall could face difficulties securing a bed space in the next academic session. The situation escalated further after the announcement of the election results, where Covenant Odedele was declared the President-elect. In the aftermath, residents of Zik Hall forcibly expelled UCJUI reporters from the premises as they tried to.report the altercation between supporters of Covenant and Zik. This was enough to raise serious concerns about press freedom and the intimidation of journalists within the university community.
Campus journalists faced another bout of intimidation during the inauguration of newly elected Students’ Union executives on March 7, 2025 at the hands of the university security unit. The event, held at the university’s Trenchard Hall, was marred by incidents that underscored the precarious position of press freedom within the institution. During this ceremony , there was an incident which involved Nice Linus, a 300-level Law student and elected member of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC). Despite her legitimate election, Linus was barred from taking the oath of office due to a pending case with the Student Disciplinary Council (SDC), stemming from her participation in protests against fee hike in May 2024. Linus attended the inauguration, only to be forcibly removed by university security personnel. Witnessing this, campus journalists attempted to document the unfolding events. Their actions were met with aggression from the security personnel. Pressmen were assaulted, had their phones seized, and one was subsequently arrested. These incidents are part of a broader pattern of intimidation against campus journalists at UI. The repeated assaults on campus journalists reflect a disturbing trend within the University of Ibadan. Such actions not only threaten the safety and well-being of individuals but also undermine the foundational principles of freedom of expression and democratic engagement.
The Broader Implications of These Attacks
The recent attacks on campus journalists in UI shows a troubling decline in press freedom within the institution. Journalism thrives in an environment where reporters can investigate and publish stories without fear of intimidation or violence. However, the physical assaults, online harassment, and arrests of campus journalists suggest that the space for independent reporting in UI is rapidly shrinking. If left unchecked, this suppression will set a dangerous precedent where those in power operate without accountability.
Intimidating the press in the course of performing their duty will also lead to a form of self-censorship as the fear of retaliation will discourage reporters from covering important issues. When the press is silenced, the result is a campus environment where misinformation, corruption, and injustice go unchallenged. Equally concerning is the failure of the university community to uphold democratic values. A university should be a space that fosters free thought, intellectual debate, and truth-seeking. Instead, by allowing violence against the press to persist, UI risks sinking deeper into the hole of student censorship in general.
The University of Ibadan cannot afford to ignore these repeated attacks on campus journalists and must take a clear stance in condemning violence against the press and ensuring that those responsible for assaults on journalists face appropriate consequences. The fight for press freedom in UI is not just about protecting student journalists—it is about protecting the right of every student to receive truthful, unbiased, and critical information. As well as the right for every student to speak up. A campus without a free press is a campus where power operates without scrutiny, and that is a reality no institution should accept.
The Stance Of The Press
The challenges faced by the press in UI mirror those seen in larger society. Suppression of journalism, whether through threats, physical violence, or censorship, is not unique to the university but reflects broader patterns in Nigeria and beyond. Attacks on press freedom—whether from governments, corporations, or other institutions—demonstrate a fear of scrutiny and a desire to silence dissent. The struggle for press freedom on campus, therefore, is part of a larger fight for democracy and accountability in society. Defending campus journalism is not just about protecting student reporters; it is about safeguarding the right to information and truth.
UCJUI and every local press organisation under it strongly condemns any form of intimidation, harassment, or violence perpetrated against the members of the press. It is alarming that the body that dedicated itself to uncovering truth and ensuring transparency and accountability are now targets of various attacks in the university. This editorial is not just to draw public attention to these issues or to encourage that stakeholders in the university take actions to prevent this from happening again, it is also a medium to state the stance of UCJUI. The Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ibadan, stands firmly for press freedom, accountability, and transparency within the university community. We remain committed to unbiased reporting, holding stakeholders accountable, and ensuring student voices are heard no matter the circumstances.
