Africa-Press – Nigeria. The International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to caution Mohammed Umar Bago, Governor of Niger State, over what it described as actions that threaten press freedom and hinder journalists from performing their professional duties in the state.
In a statement jointly signed by Fidelis Mbah, Deputy President of IPI Nigeria, and Tobi Soniyi, the organisation’s Legal Adviser, the institute expressed concern over what it said were repeated incidents involving intimidation and harassment of journalists linked to officials of the state government.
The group cited the recent alleged assault on Musa Mikail, a senior reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), as the latest example.
According to IPI Nigeria, the incident occurred on March 13, 2026, when Mikail was covering a Ramadan Iftar event at the palace of the Etsu Nupe in Bida.
The journalist alleged that he was attacked and forced out of the venue by security operatives acting on the instruction of Shehu Abdullahi Maikano, the Chief Security Officer to Governor Bago.
“I was standing with my cameraman when the governor’s CSO approached us and asked us to move,” Mikail said.
“I explained that we were not obstructing anyone and were simply doing our job. Despite this, he pushed me, and other security operatives attacked me and forced me out of the event.”
IPI Nigeria described the incident as part of what it called a “disturbing pattern of hostility toward journalists” in the state.
“The latest assault on the NTA reporter represents a troubling pattern of violations of press freedom and hostility toward journalists by Governor Bago and some officials of his administration,” the statement said.
The organisation also highlighted several other incidents it said raised concerns about the safety and independence of journalists in the state.
It noted that last month, a reporter with Prestige FM in Minna, Ahmed Isah Sakpe, was invited and detained by the police following allegations that he defamed a protocol officer attached to the governor.
IPI Nigeria further recalled that in November last year, Governor Bago ordered the closure of Badeggi FM, accusing the station of airing broadcasts that allegedly incited the public against his administration.
The institute also cited an incident in May 2025, when a freelance journalist, Ibrahim Ndamitso, was reportedly handed over to the police for questioning after asking the governor about a kidnapping incident along the Kontagora–Minna road during a public event.
Similarly, in December 2024, journalist Yakubu Mustapha Bina was reportedly questioned by operatives of the State Security Service after publishing a report stating that the governor’s convoy had lost its way during a rural tour.
IPI Nigeria also recalled that in November 2023, Mustapha Batsari, a correspondent with the Voice of America (VOA), was allegedly assaulted and threatened by the Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Major General Bello Mohammed Abdullahi (retd), inside the Government House in Minna.
According to the institute, these repeated incidents led to Governor Bago being listed in IPI Nigeria’s “Book of Infamy,” a publication that documents cases of press freedom violations in the country.
“The persistent attempts to suppress freedom of expression and silence journalists led to Governor Bago’s inclusion in the IPI Nigeria Book of Infamy, launched on December 2, 2025,” the organisation said.
IPI Nigeria therefore called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to conduct an immediate investigation into the alleged assault on the NTA reporter and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
“We urge the Inspector-General of Police to launch a prompt investigation into the incident and ensure that the governor’s Chief Security Officer who ordered the assault is sanctioned in accordance with the law,” the statement said.
The organisation stressed that safeguarding press freedom is essential for democratic governance and urged authorities to ensure journalists can carry out their duties without fear of intimidation or harassment.
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