News
Nigerian journalists attacked, threatened while covering Bayelsa, Kogi selections
Nigerian authorities should investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the harassment of journalists working to cover the November 16 gubernatorial and federal assembly elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Armed men threatened and harassed reporters, security forces barred journalists from entering electoral buildings, and demonstrators threw stones at reporters trying to cover the elections, according to news reports and journalists who spoke to CPJ.
The elections in these two states followed nationwide elections in February, which were also marred by violence against journalists, as CPJ reported at the time.
“Journalists play an indispensable role in the conduct of credible elections and should never be the subject of threats, violence, or harassment,” said Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator, from Washington, D.C. “Nigerian authorities must investigate all allegations made by journalists about interference in their work covering the November 16 elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.”
In Kogi state, Chinedu Asadu, a reporter with the privately owned The Cable online newspaper, told CPJ in a phone call that police officers seized his cell phone for 15 minutes when he attempted to take photos of a politician giving money to women waiting to cast their votes. After police returned his phone, Asadu said another officer made threatening comments, and he feared the officer would harm him, so he left the polling place.
Lolafunke Ogunlolu, a journalist with the privately owned Africa Independent Television broadcaster, told CPJ in a phone call that a group of armed men threatened to beat her after they saw her film them assaulting a woman at a polling station in Aiyetorogbede, Kogi state.
Ogunlolu said the men, whose identities she could not determine, demanded she delete all the pictures and videos she took of them. Ogunlolu said one man was about to hit her and take her phone when another stopped him after recognizing Ogunlolu as a reporter with the station.
Two journalists with the privately owned Splash FM radio station, Tobi Kusimo and David Bello, told CPJ in phone conversations that a group of demonstrators in Aiyetoro Gbede, a town in Kogi state, threw stones at their van when they tried to interview a polling officer. The journalists said they fled after demonstrators broke their rear windshield and otherwise damaged their vehicle, and appeared angry enough to kill them.
“If we had waited for two additional seconds, only God knows what would have happened,” Bello told CPJ.
In a separate case, Sam Egwu, a journalist with the privately owned newspaper The Nation, and Sunday Amachi, a reporter with the government-owned Kogi State Radio broadcaster, told CPJ via phone that a group of demonstrators in Anyigba, in Kogi state, surrounded their car while they drove to a polling place and threw stones at their vehicle.
“In fact, they destroyed our vehicle. It was a miracle we left that place unhurt,” said Egwu.
Egwu and Amachi told CPJ that protesters alleging election interference barricaded all exit routes and surrounded their car. Protesters climbed on their car in an attempt to force the journalists out, but the demonstrators dispersed after security forces fired their weapons, Egwu said.
In Bayelsa state, four unidentified individuals wielding canes and bottles intercepted Adejumor Kabir, a reporter with the Premium Times newspaper, while he was traveling to the main office of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, he told CPJ via phone. The individuals forced his driver to leave, and drove Kabir to an isolated area in Opolo, in Yenagoa, the state capital, where they interrogated him for two hours, he told CPJ. Kabir said his abductors had mistaken him for a government official and, after questioning and accusing him of manipulating election results, they released him.
Kabir then traveled to the Independent National Electoral Commission office to cover the collation of the results, but police blocked him and other reporters from entering the building, even though they identified themselves as journalists, Kabir said. He said the officers told the journalists that they were working on orders from above not to admit members of the press.
CPJ’s calls and text messages to Oluwole Ozassi-Uzi, the Independent National Electoral Commission spokesperson, went unanswered. The head of voter education in Bayelsa State, Wilfred Ifogah, told journalists that security officials “misunderstood INEC instructions” when they bared reporters from entering the commission’s office, according to a report by Premium Times.
In a text message to CPJ, Nigerian police spokesperson Frank Mba said he was not aware of any assaults on journalists and said, “The safety and wellbeing of journalists and media practitioners generally was of paramount importance to the Nigeria Police Force.”
The family of the late veteran actor and scholar, Chief (Prof.) Adekola “Kola” Oyewo, has expressed deep appreciation to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, among other Nigerians, for their messages of condolence and support following the death of their patriarch.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Dr. Adewale Oyewo on behalf of the family, the bereaved household said the overwhelming show of sympathy, prayers, visits and acts of kindness from across Nigeria and beyond had served as a strong pillar of comfort in their period of grief.
The family described the late Oyewo as a respected community leader, accomplished academic, devoted family man, and traditional title holder whose life was defined by service, integrity, and unwavering commitment to societal development.
According to the statement, the tributes received in his honour reflect the far-reaching impact he made on students, colleagues, cultural practitioners and the wider society.
The family particularly appreciated Governor Ademola Adeleke for his condolence message and prayers, noting that his support had been deeply comforting.
It also expressed gratitude to the Ooni of Ife, whose words of encouragement were described as uplifting and consoling during the mourning period.
The statement further acknowledged the Oloba of Oba-Ile, Oba (Prof.) Adekunle Ashamu Oyeyemi (Tewogbade I), the Oloba-in-Council, and other traditional institutions for their fatherly support and solidarity.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was also commended for his message of sympathy, which the family said brought reassurance in their moment of loss.
The family extended appreciation to professional bodies including the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) and the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), as well as academic communities of Obafemi Awolowo University, Redeemer’s University, Ekiti State University, and Elizade University, where the deceased served.
They also thanked friends, associates and well-wishers who stood by them with prayers and support.
“As we continue preparations to honour the life and legacy of our beloved patriarch, we humbly seek continued prayers and support,” the statement added, praying for the peaceful repose of his soul.
The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has appointed Anietie Iniedu as the new Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, succeeding Anthony Placid, who was appointed to the position barely three months ago.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Friday by Placid, who described his successor as a seasoned police officer with extensive experience in public communication, operational policing, intelligence management, institutional accountability and administration.
An indigene of Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Iniedu holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Pure Chemistry from the University of Uyo and has attended several professional courses in investigative interviewing, crime scene management, intelligence analysis, strategic communication and human rights-based policing.
Before his latest appointment, Iniedu headed the Complaint Response Unit at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, where he coordinated the management of public complaints and drove initiatives aimed at deepening transparency, accountability and public trust in the Nigeria Police Force.
He also served as Public Relations Officer of the Police College of Information Technology, Kobape, Ogun State, in addition to holding several operational and administrative positions across the country.
His previous postings include Operations Officer at the Maisandari Division in Yobe State, Area Crime Officer at the Umuahia Area Command in Abia State, Staff Officer at the IGP Secretariat, Force Headquarters, Second-in-Command of the 50 Police Mobile Force Squadron, Kubwa, and Officer-in-Charge of the Force Headquarters Situation Room, where he coordinated the dissemination of crime and security information nationwide.
The statement quoted the Inspector-General as expressing confidence in Iniedu’s capacity to lead the Force Public Relations Department, noting that his wealth of experience and professional background would further strengthen the police’s strategic communication architecture and enhance engagement with members of the public.
Insist state policing must align with federalism, citizens’ rights as governors deepen talks on constitutional review, energy transition, agriculture, social protection
The 36 state governors under the umbrella of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum have renewed their support for the establishment of state police and sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s power sector, signalling fresh momentum for key constitutional and economic restructuring efforts.
The position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Forum’s second meeting held on Wednesday, where the governors deliberated on security, energy, nutrition, agriculture and development partnerships affecting the country.
According to the communiqué, the governors engaged in extensive consultations with Attorneys-General across the states to review proposed constitutional amendments relating to state policing and other governance reforms.
They stressed that any framework for state police must be “constitutionally sound, consistent with federalism, and protective of citizens’ rights,” adding that ongoing legal consultations would help shape a unified and stronger position for the states ahead of national engagement.
The Forum noted that the collaborative review process with legal advisers was already producing inputs expected to strengthen the collective stance of states on security restructuring in the country.
On social development, the governors received a presentation from the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on progress under the National Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative, aimed at tackling malnutrition at the grassroots.
They reaffirmed their commitment to improving nutrition outcomes across Nigeria, particularly in reducing child malnutrition, and expressed support for the ongoing consideration of the National Nutrition Bill.
The governors also called for sustained engagement with stakeholders to strengthen the legal and institutional framework guiding nutrition governance nationwide.
In another briefing, the Forum was updated by the World Bank Country Office on the proposed Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Nigeria (FY2026–2032), alongside the Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW) Programme.
The AGROW initiative is designed to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen value chains, attract private sector investment, improve food security, and support early childhood development interventions across participating states.
The governors expressed support for continued collaboration with the Federal Government, the World Bank and development partners, while endorsing state-specific interventions aimed at ensuring effective implementation and measurable impact.
They further urged stronger inter-sectoral coordination in health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation, and social protection systems to improve outcomes for citizens.
On energy reform, the Forum considered the National Solar Super-Grid (NSSG) Initiative, a plan to expand electricity access through decentralised solar generation integrated into a national transmission backbone.
The governors noted the initiative’s potential to improve energy security, deepen industrialisation, strengthen state electricity markets and accelerate economic growth across the federation.
Reaffirming their commitment to power sector reforms, the governors pledged sustained collaboration with stakeholders to expand access to reliable and affordable electricity, describing energy reform as central to job creation, productivity and national development.
The meeting ended with a renewed resolve by the governors to deepen cooperation on reforms seen as critical to economic stability, security restructuring and improved welfare for Nigerians.
-
Politics1 week ago2027: Oseni Mobilises Oyo Artisans, Traders, Targets One Million Votes for Tinubu
-
News2 days ago
Kola Oyewo’s family to Adeleke, Ooni, Atiku: Your condolences are our pillar of strength
-
Opinion1 week ago
State Police, Local Government Autonomy: Answers to Nigeria’s Lingering Questions | By Titilope Gbadamosi
-
Opinion5 days ago
The Silent Thief in Nigeria’s Petrol Stations | By Solomon Oroge
