The Association of Kano Online Journalists (ASKOJ) has raised alarm over what it described as a disturbing rise in police harassment of journalists, following the detention of a Kano-based broadcaster, Abdulaziz Aliyu, on Monday night.
Yakubu Salisu, ASKOJ Chairman, in a statement on Wednesday, said Aliyu, who presents a Hausa-language historical program on Karama Radio, was held for more than two hours at the Court Road Area Command, Gyadi-Gyadi, after being invited by an officer identified as CSP Sabo.
According to the journalist, the officer initially claimed his name appeared in connection with a stolen phone investigation.
However, upon arrival at the station, Aliyu said he was confronted with an entirely different issue, a complaint about one of his recent broadcasts.
“The police deceived me; it was about an article that allegedly offended some individuals,” Aliyu told reporters after his release.
The program in question focused on the late Malam Jafaru Ɗan Isiyaku, who ruled the Zazzau Emirate from 1937 to 1959.
ASKOJ condemned the detention, describing it as part of a troubling pattern of intimidation.
“Journalism is a constitutionally recognized profession, yet some individuals intoxicated by power view it as a threat and use state resources to harass, intimidate, arrest, and, in some cases, endanger the lives of journalists,” Comrade Salisu said.
“Abdulaziz Aliyu was released on bail some minutes past 10.00 PM and is to return today (Wednesday) for continuation of the case,” he added.
While stressing that ASKOJ does not condone unprofessional conduct in the media, it insisted that the safety of journalists and the freedom of the press must be safeguarded.
ASKOJ called on relevant authorities and stakeholders to address grievances through lawful and civil means, rather than resorting to intimidation and arbitrary arrests.
Rights advocates have repeatedly warned that continued police interference in media work could erode press freedom in Nigeria, a cornerstone of democracy.
All efforts to reach the Kano State Police spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, for comments were unsuccessful as of press time.
