Our Reporter, Abuja
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has welcomed the decision by Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, to investigate the alleged assault on an Albarka Radio journalist, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, by police officers, while insisting that the probe must be transparent and credible.
The organisation, in a statement issued Tuesday in Lagos by its Communications Officer, Idowu Adewale, described the Commissioner’s swift condemnation of the incident and his pledge to sanction any officer found culpable as a positive step towards accountability.
The Bauchi State Police Command, through its spokesperson, Police Superintendent Nafiu Habib, had disclosed that the Commissioner met with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the management of Albarka Radio, and the victim’s family on Monday, where he assured them of a thorough investigation.
Reacting, MRA said the Commissioner’s acknowledgement that police personnel are meant to protect citizens—not attack them—was reassuring, noting that such recognition reinforces the need to safeguard media freedom.
However, the group cautioned that similar assurances had been made in the past without corresponding action, as cases of harassment, assault, unlawful arrest, and intimidation of journalists by security agencies persist across the country.
MRA stressed that beyond public statements, the police must ensure a transparent process that identifies all officers involved in the alleged assault and imposes appropriate sanctions in line with the law.
The organisation specifically called for the suspension of the Divisional Police Officer allegedly linked to the incident, Superintendent Jamilu Kabir, arguing that his continued stay in office could compromise the integrity of the investigation.
According to the statement, allowing the officer to remain in position creates the impression of institutional protection and raises concerns about possible interference with witnesses or evidence.
It urged the Nigeria Police Force at both federal and state levels to adopt proactive measures to prevent future attacks on journalists, including regular training of officers on media rights, issuance of clear operational guidelines for engagement with journalists, and strict enforcement of disciplinary measures for violations.
“Ensuring accountability in this case will send a strong signal that attacks on journalists will not be tolerated and will help rebuild public confidence in the commitment of the police to uphold the rule of law,” MRA said.
It emphasised that the safety of journalists is critical to protecting freedom of expression, access to information, and democratic governance, adding that both the police and the media must operate within a framework of mutual respect and professionalism.
MRA said it would continue to monitor the situation closely and expects the outcome of the investigation to be made public within a reasonable timeframe.
