Demand for Accountability and Legal Action

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Kano State Government to ensure the immediate identification, arrest, and prosecution of hoodlums who allegedly attacked journalists covering a political rally in the state. The demand follows a formal condemnation of the incident by the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya.

In a statement issued in Lagos, MRA’s Senior Legal Officer, Ms. Iluobe Adams, emphasized that while the government's condemnation is a necessary starting point, concrete legal action is required to prevent the case from being ignored or swept under the carpet.

Condemnation is an important first step, but accountability is the necessary next step. The Commissioner can demonstrate the seriousness of his position by ensuring that this case does not disappear without a proper investigation, identification of the perpetrators and appropriate legal consequences.

— Ms Iluobe Adams, Senior Legal Officer, Media Rights Agenda

Details of the Sani Abacha Stadium Attack

The violent incident targeted a vehicle belonging to Radio Nigeria’s Pyramid FM, which was transporting four staff members, alongside a journalist from Guarantee Radio and another from the Daily Trust newspaper. The attack occurred shortly after the group had completed their coverage of an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally held at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

According to reports from MRA, the assailants were armed with machetes and knives. The attackers repeatedly struck the vehicle with these weapons, resulting in injuries to the driver and several journalists who sustained wounds from broken glass as the vehicle was vandalized. MRA noted that journalists must be allowed to carry out their professional duties without fear of intimidation or physical harm.

Call for Institutional Protection of the Press

MRA urged Commissioner Waiya to personally oversee the investigation and utilize his office to ensure security agencies act swiftly. The organization stressed the importance of a transparent process where the findings are made public and perpetrators are held accountable, regardless of their political affiliations or connections.

We commend Commissioner Waiya for taking a clear and principled position against the attack on journalists and for recognizing that protecting journalists is essential to protecting democracy. However, we urge the Commissioner to go beyond condemnation by personally following up on the investigation and using his position within the State Government to ensure that the relevant security agencies take prompt and effective action.

— Ms Iluobe Adams, Senior Legal Officer, Media Rights Agenda

The media advocacy group also recommended that the Ministry of Information engage directly with the management of Pyramid FM and the Kano State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). This engagement would serve to obtain first-hand accounts and determine if additional safety measures are necessary for media workers covering political activities in the state.

Establishing Systematic Safety Mechanisms

Beyond the immediate prosecution of the attackers, the MRA suggested that the Kano State Government establish a systematic mechanism for protecting journalists during political activities. This would include regular consultations between the Ministry of Information, security agencies, political parties, and media organizations to develop clear safety protocols.

Any attempt to intimidate, assault or prevent journalists from carrying out this function undermines citizens' ability to participate meaningfully in democratic processes, and a failure to investigate and prosecute attacks on journalists could encourage further attacks as political competition increases.

— Ms Iluobe Adams, Senior Legal Officer, Media Rights Agenda

The organization concluded by urging media houses to strengthen their own internal safety protocols. Suggested measures include conducting thorough risk assessments, establishing emergency communication arrangements, and ensuring journalists have access to timely legal and security assistance when working in volatile environments.