Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has told Bauchi State Police Commissioner, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, that while it welcomed condemnation of last Saturday’s assault on Albarka Radio reporter, Mohammed Adamu, by police officers under his command, he must do more than release a statement, but act decisively.

It called on the Nigeria Police Force to take concrete measures to prevent future occurrences and end attacks against journalists.

Police Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Command, Nafiu Habib, in a statement, had said the Commissioner met with the leadership of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state; General Manager of Albarka Radio, and relatives of the journalist in his office, during which he condemned the attack and promised to investigate the incident.

Responding to the announcement, MRA, through its Communications Officer, Idowu Adewale, said: “We are particularly encouraged by the Commissioner’s acknowledgement that police personnel are deployed to protect citizens and not to engage in attacks on civilians, as well as his recognition that the incident constitutes an affront to journalists and undermines media freedom.

“Similar assurances have been given in the past following attacks on journalists in different parts of the country, yet incidents of harassment, assault, unlawful arrest, and intimidation of media professionals by security agencies continue to occur with disturbing frequency.

“It is essential that the Bauchi State Police Command goes beyond statements of condemnation and ensures that this case results in a transparent investigation, the identification of all the police officers involved, and the imposition of appropriate sanctions in accordance with the law.”

Adewale argued that a starting point in ensuring a transparent and credible investigation would be to place the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Jamilu Kabir, alleged to have led the assault on Adamu, on suspension, which is standard practice in a criminal investigation against an official and in cases of alleged misconduct, especially in a situation such as the present case where he can easily influence witnesses, tamper with evidence or use his authority to obstruct the investigation in various ways.

He added: “The continued stay of Police Superintendent Jamilu in office gives the unfortunate impression that whatever investigation may be going on is not a serious one and that he is being protected by the institution despite the serious allegations of wrongdoing against him.
This situation can undermine the integrity of the investigation and public confidence in it.”

MRA urged the NPF at both the federal and state levels to take more proactive action and concrete measures to prevent future occurrences by instituting appropriate training for police officers on the rights and constitutional duties of journalists, issuing clear operational directives on engagement with the media, and adopting and enforcing strict disciplinary consequences for violations.

THIS iseven asthe management of Albarka Radio has called on the police command to immediately suspend SP Jamilu Kabir.

The station also demanded that the officers should face maximum sanctions if found culpable.

In a statement yesterday, the General Manager, Dauda Ciroma, said the organisation was deeply traumatised by what he described as a “vicious, unprovoked and dehumanising assault” on its staff.

Ciroma noted that the station aligns with the position of the Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, expressing confidence in the union’s leadership to ensure justice is served.

He also appreciated individuals and organisations that had shown solidarity, stressing that their support reinforces the demand for a thorough investigation and swift disciplinary action against those involved.

The station acknowledged the statement by the Commissioner of Police condemning the incident and promising an investigation.
However, it urged police authorities to suspend the DPO pending the outcome of the probe to ensure transparency.