Nigeria: Police Declares Radio Presenter Wanted, Amnesty Condemns Act

Nigeria: Police Declares Radio Presenter Wanted, Amnesty Condemns Act

Amnesty International strongly condemns the unlawful and outrageous invasion of JKD TV Hamada Radio Network located at Millennium City Kaduna by a contingent of heavily armed police. Both the General Manager Mr. Charles Abah and a security guard were arbitrarily arrested during the raid.

The incident which happened today 11 September 2026 demonstrates President Bola Tinubu government’s utter disregard for freedom of expression and contempt for media freedom. Government of Nigeria is increasingly making it difficult for the media report on issues of public interest without fear of reprisals.

Police said that they had ‘instructions’ to arrest journalist Zainab Salihu Yabagi, regarding a video explainer produced by JKD Radio & Television on Mr. Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs. Kaduna state police command had already declared Zainab Yabagi wanted.

Attacking JKD Radio/Television is part of a wider pattern of attempts to create climate of fear across newsrooms in Nigeria and to make it harder for journalists to do their job.

No government official — no matter his status — is above scrutiny and criticism in the interest of the public.

This is clear case of abuse power. Such targeting of independent media is solely aimed at depriving people of the opportunity to receive fair and objective reporting of issues affecting their lives.

An attack on the media is an attack on freedom.