MRA Welcomes Police Commissioner’s Pledge to Investigate Assault on Journalist, Insists on Credible Probe

Media Rights Agenda, MRA, has welcomed an announcement by Bauchi State Police Commissioner Sani-Omolori Aliyu on March 23, 2026, condemning last Saturday’s assault on Albarka Radio journalist, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, by police officers under his command, as well as his pledge to investigate the incident and sanction any officer found culpable. 

The organization, however, called on the Nigeria Police Force at Federal and State levels to take concrete measures to prevent future occurrences and end attacks against journalists.

Police Superintendent Nafiu Habib, the Police Public Relations Officer at the Bauchi State Command, said in a statement on March 23 that earlier in the day, the Commissioner met with the leadership of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the State; the General Manager of Albarka Radio, and the relatives of the journalist in his office, during which he condemned the attack on the journalist and promised to investigate the incident.

Responding to the announcement, MRA said in a statement issued in Lagos by its Communications Officer, Mr. Idowu Adewale: “We consider the Commissioner’s swift reaction and his decision to constitute an investigative and disciplinary team as a positive step toward accountability.  We are particularly encouraged by the Commissioner’s acknowledgment that police personnel are deployed to protect citizens and not to engage in attacks on civilians, as well as his recognition that the incident constitutes an affront to journalists and undermines media freedom.”

Saying that “Such statements are important in reinforcing the principle that journalists must be free to carry out their professional duties without fear of intimidation, harassment, or violence”, Mr. Adewale noted that “similar assurances have been given in the past following attacks on journalists in different parts of the country, yet incidents of harassment, assault, unlawful arrest, and intimidation of media professionals by security agencies continue to occur with disturbing frequency.”

For this reason, he said, it is essential that the Bauchi State Police Command goes beyond statements of condemnation and ensures that this case results in a transparent investigation, the identification of all the police officers involved, and the imposition of appropriate sanctions in accordance with the law.

Mr. Adewale argued that a starting point in ensuring a transparent and credible investigation would be to place Police Superintendent Jamilu Kabir, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) alleged to have led the assault on Mr Adamu, on suspension, which is standard practice in a criminal investigation against an official and in cases of alleged misconduct, especially in a situation such as the present case where he can easily influence witnesses, tamper with evidence or use his authority to obstruct the investigation in various ways.

He said: “The continued stay of Police Superintendent Jamilu in office gives the unfortunate impression that whatever investigation may be going on is not a serious one and that he is being protected by the institution despite the serious allegations of wrongdoing against him.  This situation is capable of undermining the integrity of the investigation and public confidence in it.”

Mr. Adewale urged the Nigeria Police Force at both Federal and State levels to take more proactive action and concrete measures to prevent future occurrences by instituting appropriate training for police officers on the rights and constitutional duties of journalists, issuing clear operational directives on engagement with the media, as well as adopting and enforcing strict disciplinary consequences for violations.

According to him, “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. We reiterate that the safety of journalists is essential to the protection of freedom of expression, access to information, and democratic governance.”

He noted that the Police and the media serve the public in different capacities, arguing that each sector will only be effective and successful where there is clear recognition of the important role that each side plays and where an atmosphere of mutual respect, professionalism, and adherence to the law exists.

Mr. Adewale stressed that Media Rights Agenda will continue to monitor the situation closely as the investigation progresses, adding that the organization expects the outcome of the investigation to be made public within a reasonable time.

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