Trust TV journalist and documentary filmmaker, Aaron Atsahyel, has been named one of three finalists for the 2026 Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award.
The international recognition follows his reporting on alleged military arrests and the families left behind in northeastern Nigeria.
Atsahyel was selected alongside William Kamau of Kenya and Humberto Basilio of Mexico from 217 entries submitted by journalists across 56 countries, according to the Thomson Foundation.
The three finalists will attend the award ceremony in London on November 30, 2026, where the winner will be announced at the Foreign Press Association (FPA) Media Awards.
The recognition places Atsahyel among three journalists whose work reflects the importance of investigative storytelling in exposing abuses, documenting human suffering and holding powerful institutions accountable.
At the centre of Atsahyel’s nominated work is Gallari Mass Arrest; 12 Years After, a documentary produced for Trust TV.
The film revisits the disappearance of 42 men from Gallari community in Borno State following their alleged arrest by Nigerian soldiers.
Through the accounts of families and survivors, the documentary examines a case that has left wives, children and relatives searching for answers about the fate of their loved ones.
The documentary focuses on the human consequences of the alleged arrests, taking viewers beyond the numbers to the lives disrupted by the disappearance of the men.
Atsahyel spoke with women and children whose lives have been shaped by the absence of their husbands, fathers and relatives.
He also interviewed three men who were released years after their arrest and recount their experiences.
The documentary revisited the circumstances surrounding the arrests and the long wait for answers, highlighting the lasting effects of unresolved disappearances on families and communities.
The Thomson Foundation’s recognition also highlights the importance of reporting from underserved and high-risk communities across sub-Saharan Africa, where journalists often work under difficult conditions to document stories of public interest.
Reacting to his nomination, Atsahyel said it provides an opportunity to bring greater international attention to the Gallari story and the wider challenges facing communities affected by insecurity and alleged human rights violations.
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