As of March 2025, HumAngle celebrated its fifth anniversary, marking half a decade of impactful journalism.
HumAngle Media, established in March 2020, is a Nigerian news organization dedicated to delivering in-depth coverage of conflict, humanitarian, and development issues across Africa.
Founded by seasoned journalists Ahmad Salkida and Obiora Chukwumba, HumAngle aims to fill a critical gap in reporting on insecurity and its impact on vulnerable populations.
Throughout these years, the platform has consistently provided nuanced narratives, shedding light on the complexities of conflicts and humanitarian crises in the region. Their commitment to innovative storytelling has positioned them as a reputable source for understanding the human fallout of insecurity and conflict.
“Our journey in this field is a pioneer work because this is the first time in Nigeria and the West African sub-region that any major platform was dedicating its entire vision and resources to reporting insecurity [and] humanitarian issues,” Chukwumba told the International Journalists’ Network. “Within six months of our operation, we reported the situation in northwest Nigeria as terrorism and not banditry. We did an editorial and gave examples and intelligence information.”
HumAngle’s work has been recognised through several awards, including the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Journalism, the Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling, and the Sigma Award, as well as being shortlisted for the African Fact-Checking Awards and the Livingston Award, and being named first runner-up in the CJID Awards.
“I am glad to have brought together and worked with a group of young men and women, a few of whom have left to start careers elsewhere. I am glad to have held up a conducive environment for them to be innovative and do things differently from the average newsroom in Nigeria. I am proud of the incredible work of my team,” Salkida said in a Sep. 6, 2021, article.
GENESIS AND EVOLUTION
HumAngle’s inception was deeply rooted in the realization that mainstream African media often failed to dedicate sustained attention to conflict reporting beyond episodic coverage of high-profile attacks.
Salkida, renowned for his extensive reporting on the Boko Haram insurgency, recognized the need for a platform that would systematically document the human cost of violence, displacement, and social instability.
Partnering with media strategist Chukwumba, the duo launched HumAngle as a digital-first newsroom committed to investigative depth and humanitarian perspectives.
Since its founding, HumAngle has cultivated a distinct journalistic approach, prioritizing rigorous field reporting, data-driven storytelling, and multimedia integration to provide a comprehensive understanding of Africa’s security landscape.
WHAT’S SPECIAL?
HumAngle’s website is structured to facilitate accessibility and engagement while ensuring thematic depth. Unlike traditional Nigerian news platforms that cater to a wide range of topics, HumAngle maintains a concentrated focus on conflict and development issues, organizing its coverage into distinct thematic beats.
Armed Violence: Detailed reporting on insurgencies, banditry, terrorism, and other forms of organized violence shaping security dynamics across Africa.
Humanitarian Crises: Investigative features on displacement, food insecurity, and refugee experiences, often incorporating first-hand narratives from affected communities.
Governance and Accountability: Analytical pieces scrutinizing policies, government interventions, and the role of international organizations in addressing insecurity.
Investigations and Special Reports: Long-form, in-depth examinations of systemic issues related to conflict financing, human trafficking, and arms proliferation.
Multimedia and Interactive Storytelling: Podcasts, video documentaries, and data visualizations enhancing audience comprehension of complex issues.
This specialized focus has positioned HumAngle as an essential resource for policymakers, researchers, and humanitarian organizations seeking contextual intelligence on Africa’s conflict dynamics.
While HumAngle shares the fundamental journalistic principles of factual accuracy and accountability with established Nigerian newspapers, its editorial philosophy and writing style diverge significantly.
HURDLES THEY MAY FACE
As a specialized digital platform, securing long-term financial stability remains a concern, especially given the high operational costs of investigative field reporting.
Also, reporting on conflict and insurgency exposes HumAngle’s journalists to significant threats, requiring enhanced protective measures and ethical considerations in sourcing sensitive information.
While HumAngle enjoys credibility among specialized audiences, expanding its readership without diluting its core mission is a delicate balancing act.
To broaden its audience base, HumAngle could introduce content in major African languages such as Hausa, Swahili, and French.
HumAngle Media’s fifth anniversary is a testament to the resilience of specialized journalism in Nigeria’s evolving media landscape.
By maintaining its commitment to investigative rigor, ethical storytelling, and digital innovation, the platform has not only provided critical insights into Africa’s security crises but has also set a benchmark for thematic journalism in the region.
