Police Attack Journalist During Eid Durbar in Bauchi

A journalist affiliated with Albarka Radio, Mohammed Adamu, faced alleged assault from police officers during the Eid Durbar festivities held in Bununu, in the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

According to reports from WikkiTimes, the altercation transpired on Saturday when Adamu arrived at the location of the celebration, accompanied by fellow journalists and an information officer. A police officer obstructed their entry into the designated media area.

Adamu recounted that the situation intensified after he made known his identity as a journalist. "I attempted to establish my credentials as a reporter, but he began to insult me. Despite clarifying that I was serving as a journalist, he started to hit me, with other officers joining in on the attack," he recounted, noting that he subsequently required medical treatment at a hospital.

He identified the divisional police officer, Jamilu Kabir, as the instigator of the assault and as someone who impeded his journalistic duties. Mr. Adamu stated that the officers used sticks during the altercation.

The spokesperson for the Bauchi State police, Nafi’u Habib, acknowledged knowledge of the incident and assured that an investigation would be conducted, promising appropriate consequences for those involved.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding the safety of journalists in Nigeria, amidst a pattern of violence against media personnel. Recently, the Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER) publicly condemned the attack on MITV reporter Habeeb Adejobi, who was assaulted while covering an official event in Lagos.

JODER characterized such violent acts as violations of press freedom and cautioned about the serious implications for democratic governance in the country. Reports from media rights organizations indicate that such incidents are unfortunately commonplace.

A 2025 report from Media Rights Agenda (MRA) documented 86 separate attacks on press freedom, without any resulting prosecutions. Arrests and detentions constituted about 44% of the incidents, with physical attacks being among the most frequent abuses.

Further investigations by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, remain the primary offenders in these matters. The MRA report attributes nearly 48% of the documented assaults to law enforcement officers, raising alarms about widespread impunity.

Mr. Adamu pointed out that this incident fits a broader troubling trend within Bauchi State, mentioning prior instances where journalists have been harassed or assaulted while performing their jobs. He stated, "This isn’t the first time police in Bauchi have mistreated journalists. This is intolerable. Police are meant to protect us, not to victimise us."

Umar Sa’id, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for Bauchi State, announced that the union was investigating the matter to gather the facts and determine if Adamu is an affiliated member.

Observers express concern that repeated attacks on journalists, especially during public events, threaten to erode accountability and diminish public trust, particularly as Nigeria experiences scrutiny over its declining record on press freedom.