Di matter don dey hot for Bauchi State as di Publisher of Wikki Times Media Foundation, Haruna Mohammed, don challenge di Nigeria Police Force over wetin im describe as brutal assault on journalist Mohammed Adamu of Albarka Radio. Di incident happen during di Eid Durbar celebration for Bununu, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
According to Haruna Mohammed, di journalist dey cover di event for im professional capacity alongside other journalists and one information officer when police constable bar am from entering di area wey dem set aside for media. Even though Adamu don identify imself as journalist, di Divisional Police Officer, SP Jamilu Kabir, reportedly order am to comot from di premises. When Adamu insist on im rights, di policemen begin to beat am physically.
“Other officers join for di attack, dem dey hit am with fist and stick,” Haruna Mohammed yarn. Di victim later go nearby clinic to treat im injuries. Di publisher describe di incident as part of pattern wey police dey use violence against journalists for Bauchi State. Im recall previous cases wey involve Wikki Times publisher Haruna Mohammed Salisu and reporter Kamal Ibrahim wey dem allegedly assault for police custody for 2022, plus Salisu detention for 2023 during election protest coverage.
Mohammed further allege say security forces dey account for plenty press freedom violations for Nigeria, and say Bauchi police don dey feature for such reports. Im accuse Kabir of deliberately leading di assault on journalist wey dey lawfully present and accredited, describing di act as intimidation wey dem carry out for public place.
Di foundation don disclose say dem don assemble team of 15 lawyers, led by SG Idrees, to take legal action against di Nigeria Police Force, di Bauchi State Police Command, and Kabir for both im personal and official capacity. According to Mohammed, di suit go seek damages for physical assault, violation of Adamu fundamental rights, and obstruction of press freedom.
“We go pursue dis matter reach im logical conclusion for court and we go also petition relevant authorities inside and outside Nigeria until justice dey served,” im talk. Mohammed also call on di Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to immediately suspend Kabir pending outcome of independent investigation. Im urge di Bauchi State Commissioner of Police to make sure say all officers wey involve for di matter dem identify dem and subject dem to disciplinary measures.
Di foundation further appeal to di Nigeria Union of Journalists, Media Rights Agenda, di Committee to Protect Journalists, and other press freedom organisations to document and amplify di case. “Di press dey exist to serve di public. When dem dey assault journalists for public events, e dey send dangerous message to society and e dey undermine citizens right to information,” im add.
Meanwhile, di Police Public Relations Officer for di state, Nafiu Habib, confirm say di command don aware of di incident. Im point out say di matter dey under investigation and im assure say dem go take appropriate actions to make sure justice dey served.
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) don also condemn di reported assault on Albarka Radio journalist Mohammed Adamu. For statement wey dem issue for Lagos, MRA demand immediate, speedy and transparent investigation into di incident, wey must result for prosecution of all police officers wey involve and adequate compensation to di journalist for injuries wey im suffer.
According to reports, Adamu dey di venue of di event for im legitimate professional duties when police officers led by DPO Jamilu Kabir stop am as im dey waka toward area wey dem designate for media members. Adamu talk say when im insist on im right to cover di event as di police officers attempt to prevent am, several officers beat am despite say im don identify imself as journalist.
Dem reportedly assault am with sticks, wey cause injuries to im head wey make am dey bleed profusely, dem subject am to verbal abuse, and dem force am to leave di venue. Im later treat for medical facility for injuries wey im sustain.
MRA Programme Officer, John Gbadamosi, talk for di statement: “We dey deeply concerned about dis incident itself, wey also appear to form part of disturbing pattern of harassment, intimidation, and physical attacks against journalists for Bauchi State and across Nigeria. Such actions by law enforcement officials no only violate di fundamental rights of journalists but also undermine di public right to receive information, wey dey essential for di functioning of democratic society.”
According to am, “under di Constitution of Nigeria, as well as regional and international human rights instruments wey Nigeria dey party to, journalists get right to gather and disseminate information without fear of harassment, intimidation, or violence. Security agencies get duty to protect journalists for di course of their work, and no to obstruct or brutalise dem.”
Gbadamosi therefore call on Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu to order immediate, thorough, speedy, and transparent investigation into di incident, identify all officers wey involve, and make sure say those wey dem find responsible dem prosecute dem before court of law and punish dem accordingly. Im also urge di IGP to take urgent steps to address di recurring attacks on journalists by police personnel nationwide, including through effective training, clear operational directives, and strict disciplinary measures whenever violations occur.
MRA call on di Federal Government to demonstrate im commitment to protecting freedom of expression and media freedom by making sure say security agencies respect di rights of journalists at all times, particularly during public events where di presence of di media dey essential for public accountability. Dem add say di continued failure to hold perpetrators accountable for attacks on journalists don encourage impunity and create climate of fear wey dey threaten di survival of independent journalism for Nigeria.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
