Global impunity for the killing of journalists has increased for the first time in more than a decade, with six out of every seven cases remaining unresolved, according to a new report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The report revealed that the global impunity rate rose to 86 per cent in 2024 and 2025, compared with 85 per cent in the previous two-year period, reversing progress in efforts to ensure justice for journalists killed in the line of duty.

It also raised concerns over the growing use of drones in attacks against journalists, particularly those reporting from conflict zones.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that UNESCO released the findings on Monday, ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, observed annually on November 2.

According to the report, 189 journalists were killed worldwide in 2024 and 2025, representing a 20 per cent increase compared with the preceding two-year period.

Of the total number, 127 journalists, representing more than two-thirds, were killed in conflict zones.

The findings were contained in UNESCO’s Director-General’s Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity, which is published every two years to mark the international day.

UNESCO Director-General, Khaled El-Enany, expressed concern over the increasing dangers journalists face while covering armed conflicts and the failure to bring those responsible for their deaths to justice.

“Journalists are increasingly paying with their lives for reporting from the frontlines of war and far too often those responsible for their killings are not held accountable,” he said.

The report showed that the Arab States recorded the highest number of verified journalist killings, with 97 cases.

Latin America and the Caribbean followed with 37 cases, while the Asia-Pacific region recorded 34. Central and Eastern Europe had 14 cases, Africa recorded six, while Western Europe and North America recorded one.

The State of Palestine recorded the highest number of journalist killings in both years, with 30 cases in 2024 and 32 in 2025.

UNESCO also identified the increasing use of drones in attacks against journalists as an emerging threat, particularly in areas affected by armed conflict.

According to the report, drone strikes killed 50 journalists during the 2024–2025 period, accounting for 40 per cent of all journalists killed in conflict zones.

It further documented seven incidents in which multiple journalists were targeted and killed in single attacks, including strikes on media workplaces and temporary reporting centres.

Fifteen journalists were reportedly killed while wearing press vests or travelling in vehicles clearly marked with the word ‘Press’.

Reacting to the findings, El-Enany called for compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2222, unanimously adopted in 2015 to protect journalists, media professionals and associated personnel as civilians during armed conflicts.

He said the protection of journalists had also been reaffirmed in the Pact for the Future.

Despite the increase in global impunity, UNESCO noted that some progress had been recorded in countries not experiencing armed conflict.

The impunity rate in non-conflict countries declined from 94 per cent in 2012 to 77 per cent in 2026, representing an average reduction of approximately one percentage point annually.

The number of journalists killed in non-conflict zones also fell to 85, the lowest figure recorded in 18 years.

“This demonstrates that when governments invest in investigations, prosecutions and protections for journalists, progress is possible,” UNESCO said.

Meanwhile, the report highlighted the particular dangers faced by women journalists, who continue to experience threats and attacks both in conflict zones and online.

It disclosed that 13 of the 14 women journalists killed during the 2024–2025 period were in countries experiencing armed conflict.

A 2025 study conducted by UN Women and the International Center for Journalists also found that 75 per cent of women journalists had experienced online or offline abuse and harassment.

More than 40 per cent reported experiencing offline violence linked to online attacks, compared with 20 per cent recorded in a 2020 UNESCO survey.

UNESCO’s findings underscore continuing concerns over the safety of journalists, the protection of press freedom and the need for stronger investigations and prosecutions to ensure that crimes against media professionals do not go unpunished.

A 35-year-old miner, identified as Ibrahim Jabir, has died after a mining pit collapsed in Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 12:10 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, trapping Jabir inside the collapsed pit.

A Jos East resident, Peter Ajik, who confirmed the incident to journalists in Jos on Monday, said the miner died at the scene.

“The victim, Ibrahim Jabir, died in the incident. The incident happened around 12:10 a.m. when the mining pit collapsed,” Ajik said.

He described the incident as another reminder of the dangers associated with mining activities, particularly in areas where adequate safety measures are not observed.

Ajik called on miners to prioritise safety precautions and urged relevant authorities to intensify monitoring of mining operations across the area to prevent further accidents.

He also disclosed that security operatives responded to a distress call following the collapse.

“We are appealing to the relevant authorities to intensify monitoring of mining activities in the area and ensure that safety measures are strictly observed to prevent further loss of lives,” he said.

Efforts to reach security operatives for further details were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The incident has renewed concerns over safety practices in mining communities, where inadequate monitoring and failure to observe established safety standards can expose miners to serious risks.

A mother of two and her newborn baby have narrowly escaped death after a fire outbreak destroyed properties and damaged several buildings in the Oloje Phase II area of Ilorin, Kwara State.

The fire, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, October 27, reportedly started around 2am at Oloje Housing Estate, leaving residents scrambling to rescue occupants and prevent the flames from spreading to neighbouring properties.

One of the affected residents, Aisha Suleiman, recounted how she woke up to an unusual electrical sound coming from beneath her freezer before discovering that the appliance was on fire.

Muhammed also urged members of the public to report fallen electricity poles, damaged installations and exposed transmission lines promptly to the relevant authorities.

The fire service commended community members who assisted in rescuing the occupants of the affected apartment, particularly the family with a newborn baby

The Oloje incident occurred less than 24 hours after another fire outbreak destroyed a building containing three-bedroom flats in Kangile Village, Ilorin South Local Government Area, on Monday.