Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
In Bauchi State, Nigeria, fierce criticism has erupted following a reported attack on a journalist covering a major cultural event, prompting prominent media outlets, press freedom organisations and civil society groups to demand accountability, transparency and serious disciplinary action against members of the police force allegedly involved in the incident. The controversy centres on an assault on a Bauchi‑based radio reporter that has raised fresh concerns about press freedom, police conduct, and the protection of journalists in the country’s evolving democratic landscape.
The management of Albarka Radio 97.5 FM, a privately‑owned station that has served Bauchi State listeners since 2017, publicly called for the immediate suspension of the Divisional Police Officer of the Bununu Police Division, Superintendent of Police Jamilu Kabir, after their reporter, Mohammed Adamu, was allegedly beaten by police officers while performing his professional duties at a colourful Eid Durbar celebration in the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area. According to media sources, the journalist had been attempting to reach the designated press area to cover the festivities and had properly identified himself when he was confronted by officers, led by the DPO.
Albarka Radio’s management described the assault as unprovoked, dehumanising and a blatant violation of press freedom. In a strongly worded statement, the station’s General Manager argued that the attack not only harmed their staff member but struck at the core of democratic values by intimidating a journalist performing legitimate professional duties. The station urged the Bauchi State Police Command and national law enforcement authorities to suspend the DPO immediately to prevent interference in the ongoing investigation and to preserve the integrity of the disciplinary process.
Confirmation of the assault has also come from independent media rights groups. The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) sharply condemned the alleged incident, describing it as a targeted brutalisation of a journalist and an act that represents a barbaric reminder of an era of impunity that has no place in a democratic society. CJID’s Deputy Director for Journalism Programmes stated that Adamu was attacked despite presenting his credentials and identifying himself as a reporter. The organisation urged the immediate suspension of the DPO and all officers involved, insisting that only full accountability would serve as a true deterrent to future misconduct.
According to detailed accounts from the advocacy group, the assault involved numerous officers, leaving Adamu with a serious head injury. In a further twist, media reports indicate that after the attack, the journalist was taken to a health facility for treatment but was allegedly left to cover his own medical expenses, with the accompanying police officer reportedly unresponsive to subsequent calls. Such reports have deepened concerns among rights defenders about how journalists are treated after suffering harm in the line of duty.
Also joining the chorus of condemnation is the Media Rights Agenda (MRA), a leading watchdog organisation advocating for freedom of expression and the safety of journalists nationwide. MRA welcomed initial statements from the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, in which he condemned the attack and pledged to investigate, but stressed that acknowledgment alone was not enough. The group underscored the importance of transparent investigations that result in the identification and sanctioning of all officers responsible. MRA specifically urged that the DPO be suspended during the probe to prevent any perception of shielding or institutional protection.
MRA’s Communications Officer said that allowing the divisional police officer to remain on duty during the investigation could compromise its integrity and diminish public confidence in the outcome, calling for clear, decisive action from both the state and national leadership of the Nigeria Police Force. The organisation reiterated its call for broader reforms, including enhanced training for officers on journalists’ rights and enforceable guidelines to safeguard media practitioners during public assignments.
Beyond the formal statements from media and rights groups, the reported assault has drawn criticism from several other journalism bodies, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the West Africa Editors Society, and the WikkiTimes Media Foundation, all of which have expressed alarm at the incident and urged swift accountability. These organisations emphasise that journalists play a vital role in informing the public and holding institutions accountable, and that physical attacks by state actors threaten the very essence of democratic participation and public trust.
In response to the mounting pressure, Bauchi State police authorities have condemned the incident and announced the establishment of an investigative and disciplinary panel to look into the matter. The state police command’s public relations officer stressed that officers are deployed to protect lives and property, not to assault civilians, and pledged that appropriate sanctions would be applied to anyone found culpable after due process. However, as of the latest reports, no specific timeline for the investigation has been released, and it remains unclear whether the DPO has been removed from his post pending the outcome.
The lack of immediate concrete action beyond verbal assurances has fuelled continued demands from civil society advocates for visible steps to uphold accountability. Many observers argue that transparent investigations and meaningful sanctions are critical not only to securing justice in this particular case but also to reinforcing institutional respect for the rule of law and press freedom more broadly. Research by international and local rights groups indicates that incidents of violence or harassment against journalists by security agents remain a persistent challenge across Nigeria, with many cases going unpunished, thereby contributing to a climate of impunity.
For the journalist at the centre of the controversy, the incident has left lasting personal and professional repercussions, with colleagues and supporters calling for fair compensation for his injuries, support during recovery, and assurances that measures will be taken to protect media workers in future assignments. Beyond the specific demands for suspension and sanctions, the incident underscores broader tensions about the relationship between the press and security institutions in a democratic society, and whether law enforcement personnel are sufficiently trained and held accountable when interacting with civilians, particularly members of the media.
As national attention continues to focus on the unfolding response by authorities in Bauchi, the case of the assaulted reporter has become a focal point for discussions about press freedom, police professionalism, and the obligations of the state to safeguard the rights of those who inform the public. How the police command and the Nigeria Police Force as a whole handle the investigation and subsequent actions will be closely watched not only by media practitioners in Nigeria but also by civil liberties advocates and democratic observers who view this episode as emblematic of larger challenges facing free expression and accountability in the country.
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