The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Nigeria Police Force to urgently investigate the alleged assault of a journalist in Niger State.
In a statement dated March 24, 2026, signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged the President to instruct the Inspector-General of Police to conduct a prompt, thorough, and transparent probe into the attack on Mr Musa Mikail, a senior reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
Mr Mikail was reportedly assaulted on March 13 while covering a Ramadan Iftar event at the palace of the Etsu Nupe in Bida. Reports suggest the attack was carried out by private security personnel allegedly acting under the instruction of Mr Shehu Maikano, Chief Security Officer to Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago.
SERAP emphasized that the role of Governor Bago in the incident should be investigated, asserting that no public official is above the law. The organisation condemned the use of security personnel to intimidate or attack journalists and stressed that such acts must not be tolerated. It called for accountability for anyone found to have ordered, condoned, or participated in the assault, including disciplinary measures or prosecution, while ensuring that the victim has access to justice and adequate compensation.
Highlighting the broader implications for press freedom, SERAP warned that persistent attacks on journalists in Niger State undermine democratic accountability and the rule of law. It stressed that journalists play a vital role in informing the public and holding authorities accountable, and that any attempt to silence them is unlawful.
Citing Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, SERAP noted the guarantee of freedom of expression, including the right to receive and disseminate information without interference. Section 34, it added, protects the dignity of the human person and freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment. The organisation also referenced Nigeria’s obligations under international human rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
SERAP warned that continued impunity for attacks on journalists weakens democracy, erodes public trust, and encourages further violations, insisting that holding perpetrators accountable is essential to safeguarding press freedom in Nigeria.
