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June 20, 2025 – Nigeria –
The recent reflections by CrossRiverWatch on the 2019 arrest of its founder, Agba Jalingo, underscore a chilling reality: press freedom in Nigeria remains under serious threat. On August 22, 2019, heavily armed security operatives stormed Jalingo’s Lagos home at dawn, arresting him in front of his wife and young daughter. He was charged with treason and terrorism, following a report he published alleging the misappropriation of ₦500 million meant for the Cross River State microfinance bank.
Jalingo’s arrest sparked national and international outrage, with civil society organizations and media unions condemning the government’s actions as an assault on journalistic freedom. He spent 179 days in detention—much of it in harsh conditions—before being released. During that time, CrossRiverWatch was forced to shut down its office, and many staff members resigned due to fear and intimidation. The outlet’s landlords reportedly refused to renew leases, further isolating the media house.
The repercussions of the attack extended far beyond one journalist. It sent a clear message to the press community in Cross River and across Nigeria: reporting on government corruption can be criminalized. Journalists now operate in an increasingly hostile environment, facing surveillance, arrests, cyberattacks, and lawsuits aimed at silencing dissent. The use of sweeping charges like terrorism and treason against journalists has become an all-too-common tactic in Nigeria.
Organizations like the Association of Cross River Online Journalists (ACROJ) have condemned these actions, calling them unconstitutional and detrimental to democratic accountability. The prolonged closure of CrossRiverWatch represents not just a logistical loss but a significant blow to investigative journalism in the region.
This case exemplifies the broader erosion of press freedom in Nigeria. Without urgent legal reforms and stronger protections for journalists, the country risks further backsliding into repression. The attack on CrossRiverWatch serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers journalists face—and the essential role they play in upholding transparency and democracy.
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