IPI Nigeria Calls on President Tinubu to Intervene in Media Attacks by Governor Bago

The International Press Institute (IPI) is calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene regarding the conduct of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State, whose actions have raised concerns about the interference with journalists' rights and the operations of media organizations in the region.

In a statement issued by IPI Nigeria, signed by Deputy President Fidelis Mbah and Legal Adviser Tobi Soniyi, the organization highlighted that recent actions by Governor Bago and his aides have violated press freedoms. They referenced a recent incident where Musa Mikail, a senior reporter for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), was assaulted during a public function as the latest example of such violations.

Mikail was covering Ramadan Iftar at the palace of the Etsu Nupe in Bida, Niger State on March 13, 2026, when he was reportedly attacked and removed from the venue by hired security personnel under the directive of Shehu Abdullahi Maikano, the Chief Security Officer to Governor Bago.

The reporter described the assault stating, "I clarified that we were not blocking anyone and were fulfilling our professional responsibilities. Still, he pushed me, and other security personnel attacked me and forced me out of the event."

The IPI condemned the assault on Mikail, labeling it a troubling trend of open attacks against press freedom and hostile actions by Bago and his administration towards journalists.

Additionally, IPI noted a previous incident in which the Niger State Police summoned and detained Prestige FM reporter Ahmed Isah Sakpe over claims of defamation against a protocol officer related to Governor Bago. Furthermore, last November, Governor Bago arbitrarily shut down Badeggi FM Radio, accusing it of inciting the public against his administration through its broadcasts.

In May 2025, journalist Ibrahim Ndamitso was targeted after asking the Governor about a kidnapping case during a public event, leading to accusations from Bago of collusion with bandits, resulting in police profiling.

In December 2024, journalist Yakubu Mustapha Bina faced questioning from the Niger State office of the State Security Service (SSS) after reporting that the Governor's entourage had lost its way during a rural tour.

Furthermore, in November 2023, Mustapha Batsari, a correspondent for Voice of America (VoA), was assaulted by Major General Bello Mohammed Abdullahi (rtd), the Niger State Commissioner of Homeland Security, within the Government House.

The repeated efforts to curtail freedom of expression and silence journalists by Governor Bago led to his inclusion in IPI Nigeria’s Book of Infamy, which was unveiled on December 2, 2025, due to his administration's ongoing violations of press rights and intimidation tactics against journalists.

In response to the recent attack on the NTA journalist, IPI Nigeria has called on the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, to promptly investigate the incident and to take disciplinary action against the Governor’s Chief Security Officer who initiated the violent encounter.

It is important to note that IPI Nigeria has identified both Governor Bago and Akwa Ibom State Governor Umoh Eno, along with former IGP Kayode Egbetokun, who presided over numerous cases of police harassment against journalists, in its Book of Infamy, which was introduced by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the organization’s annual conference in December 2025.