Disu Must Tame Harassment of Journalists

The recent report indicating that a journalist with Albarka Radio in Bauchi, Mohammed Adamu, was brutalised by the officers of the state police command while covering the Eid Durbar celebration is disturbing.

 All over the social media, Nigerians were inundated with photographs of Adamu soaked in blood from a broken head.

Reports claimed police officers hit him with sticks and rained blows on him during the public event.

Reacting, the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) condemned the attack and demanded an immediate investigation into the incident, calling on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tunji Disu, to identify and prosecute the officers involved.

Similarly, the Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) also strongly condemned the assault, describing it as a violation of human rights and direct assault on press freedom. It added that the action was a disgraceful display of lawlessness by officers who are expected to protect, not harm, citizens.

It called on the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, to launch an immediate investigation and sanction all officers involved in the incident.

The NUJ also demanded that the police command cover all medical expenses incurred by the victim.

Recall that when the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun officially resigned from office on February 24, his successor, Tunji Disu had pledged his commitment to human rights and the freedom of the press.

His pledge was a signal that his tenure would depart from the era of human rights violations and press freedom abuses that characterised Egbetokun’s tenure.

Under Egbetokun, the police frequently weaponised harassment, brutality and Cybercrime (Prohibition and Prevention) Act (2024) to arrest and detain journalists arbitrarily. Police impunity and brutality seriously discredited his tenure.

The police often relied on the repealed Section 24 of the Act, and used allegations of cyberstalking and defamation under the Cybercrime Act to justify the arrests of journalists, bypassing civil legal procedures.

Nigerians are looking forward to seeing how Disu will fulfill his pledge. He should not allow human rights violations perpetrated under his predecessors to continue. 

He should also not condone intimidation, harassment, or violence against journalists by his officers and men under any circumstances.