By Mahmoud
Amnesty International has condemned the reported invasion of JKD TV/Hamada Radio Network in Millennium City, Kaduna, by heavily armed police officers, describing the operation as unlawful and an attack on press freedom.
According to the organisation, the raid led to the arbitrary arrest of the station’s General Manager, Charles Abah, and a security guard.
Amnesty said the police claimed they were acting on instructions to arrest journalist Zainab Salihu Yabagi over a video explainer produced by JKD Radio and Television concerning Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs.
The human rights organisation further alleged that the Kaduna State Police Command had declared Yabagi wanted in connection with the matter, warning that the development could deepen concerns over the safety of journalists and independent media organisations operating in Nigeria.
Amnesty International said the incident was part of a broader pattern of pressure against the media, alleging that actions targeting journalists and news organisations were creating an atmosphere of fear and making it increasingly difficult for the press to report on matters of public interest without fear of reprisals.
The organisation stressed that public officials should remain open to scrutiny and criticism, regardless of their positions, and urged respect for press freedom and the right of Nigerians to receive fair and objective information.
It warned that attacks on media organisations ultimately undermine the public’s right to know and constitute a threat to freedom of expression.If you want, I can also �make the headline more powerful and controversial in PUNCH/Daily Trust style while keeping the story legally cautious.
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