WAFLO Tracks Attacks on Journalists Ahead of Osun Governorship Election

The WAFLO system will track and document attacks against journalists during the Osun State governorship election, the International Press Centre (IPC) has announced.

The IPC said it will deploy the WhatsApp-enabled artificial intelligence system as a pilot project during the election on Saturday, 15 August 2026.

IPC Executive Director Lanre Arogundade announced the initiative at a press conference in Osogbo on Friday.

He said WAFLO would allow journalists to report incidents in real time. The system will also help verify, document and monitor threats to journalists and press freedom during the poll.

According to Mr Arogundade, the platform will capture incidents such as assaults, threats and other violations against journalists performing their professional duties.

He said the project aims to ensure that attacks against journalists do not go unnoticed or remain undocumented.

“WAFLO” will also provide stakeholders with timely information about incidents occurring at election venues. As a result, authorities and relevant organisations can respond more quickly to safety concerns.

The IPC said journalists will be able to use the platform to report threats as they happen. This could help create a clearer record of attacks and other restrictions affecting media workers during the election.

The deployment comes as journalists prepare to cover voting, collation and other activities surrounding the Osun governorship poll.

The IPC has stressed the need to protect journalists because they play a key role in informing voters and documenting the electoral process.

However, the effectiveness of WAFLO will depend on how quickly journalists report incidents and how stakeholders respond to the information received.

The pilot project could also provide useful data for improving journalist safety during future elections in Nigeria.