Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Kano, Nigeria — Female journalists across Northern Nigeria have raised fresh alarm over what they describe as a disturbing rise in gender-based harassment, intimidation, and violence targeting women in the media as political activities intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. The concerns were formally discussed during a stakeholders’ roundtable held in Kano State, where participants warned that the trend could significantly weaken election coverage, democratic accountability, and press freedom if left unaddressed.
The meeting was convened on Saturday by Mata Media under the Mata Media Foundation and hosted at the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), a Kano-based organisation known for its work on digital rights, gender inclusion, and civic engagement. The roundtable brought together female journalists, media development experts, civil society actors, and advocates for press freedom to assess the working conditions of women reporters, particularly in politically sensitive environments.
Participants at the forum said female journalists in the region are increasingly exposed to a combination of physical, verbal, and digital abuse while carrying out their professional duties. According to accounts shared during the discussion, incidents range from intimidation at political events and election-related assignments to targeted online harassment campaigns that follow reporters across social media platforms. Some participants also described experiences of sexual harassment and threats linked to their journalistic work, particularly when covering elections, protests, or politically charged issues.
Organisers and participants stressed that the pattern is not isolated, noting that it reflects broader structural challenges facing women in Nigeria’s media industry. While journalism in the country is widely regarded as vibrant and influential, practitioners often operate under difficult conditions marked by insecurity, political pressure, and weak enforcement of protections for press freedom. Female journalists, stakeholders said, face additional gender-specific risks that compound the general hazards of reporting in volatile environments.
CITAD representatives used the occasion to reiterate earlier concerns about gender-based violence in the media space, referencing ongoing monitoring of harassment trends affecting journalists in Northern Nigeria. The organisation has previously documented cases of abuse ranging from online intimidation to physical attacks, and has consistently called for stronger institutional safeguards and accountability mechanisms to protect media workers, especially women.
The roundtable also highlighted the growing role of digital platforms in amplifying harassment. Participants noted that online abuse has become a significant extension of offline intimidation, with coordinated attacks, sexist messaging, and targeted campaigns often directed at female reporters who cover political developments or criticise public officials. These digital threats, attendees said, not only affect journalists’ safety but also contribute to psychological stress and professional self-censorship.
Stakeholders warned that without urgent intervention, the situation could discourage women from participating in frontline political reporting during the 2027 election cycle. They argued that reduced female participation in election coverage would undermine media diversity and limit the range of perspectives available to the public during a critical democratic period. Some participants emphasized that inclusive journalism is essential for balanced reporting, particularly in elections where misinformation and political tensions are often high.
The discussions also focused on institutional responses, with calls for media organisations to strengthen internal policies on workplace safety and harassment reporting. Participants urged newsrooms to establish clearer complaint mechanisms, improve access to legal and psychological support for victims, and adopt zero-tolerance policies toward sexual harassment and intimidation. Civil society groups at the meeting also encouraged collaboration between media houses, security agencies, and advocacy organisations to improve response systems for threatened journalists.
Training and capacity-building were identified as key priorities. Several speakers called for expanded digital safety education for female journalists, including guidance on protecting personal data, managing online abuse, and documenting incidents for reporting to relevant authorities. They also advocated for regular risk assessment training for reporters assigned to political beats, particularly during election periods when tensions are typically heightened.
The concerns raised in Kano align with broader findings by media rights organisations that have tracked increasing attacks on journalists in Nigeria over the past decade. Reports from regional and international watchdogs have documented cases of harassment, arbitrary detention, and violence against media workers, with women often facing additional layers of gender-based abuse in both professional and digital spaces. These patterns have been linked to broader challenges in press freedom protection and weak enforcement of existing legal safeguards.
In Northern Nigeria specifically, insecurity, political competition, and social conservatism have also been identified as factors contributing to the vulnerability of journalists. Election cycles tend to heighten these risks, as political actors, supporters, and other stakeholders exert pressure on media professionals covering campaigns, rallies, and electoral disputes. Women journalists, participants said, are often targeted both for their professional work and their gender, making them particularly vulnerable in such environments.
Advocates at the roundtable emphasized that addressing the problem requires coordinated action from multiple stakeholders, including government institutions, media regulators, civil society organisations, and international partners. They called for stronger enforcement of existing protections for journalists, improved reporting channels for abuse cases, and sustained public awareness campaigns aimed at changing attitudes toward women in the media.
As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, the concerns raised in Kano underscore growing anxiety within the media community about safety, inclusivity, and press freedom. Stakeholders warned that failure to act could result in reduced participation of women in election reporting, diminished quality of public information, and increased vulnerability of journalists working on the frontlines of democracy.
The roundtable concluded with a renewed call for urgent reforms to ensure safer working conditions for female journalists in Northern Nigeria, particularly as political activities intensify nationwide. Participants stressed that protecting women in the media is not only a matter of workplace safety but also a fundamental requirement for sustaining democratic accountability and credible election coverage in the country.
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