Journalist ’s wife and daughters abducted in Kaduna

The wife and two daughters of Kogi-based journalist, Muhammed Bashir, were among the ten family members abducted on August 8, 2024, in Kaduna State.

Earlier yesterday, Bashir’s wife and two daughters arrived in Kaduna to spend a holiday with her family in a suburb.

Today in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, Bashir, a correspondent with Nigeria Telegraph, informed his colleagues of this in a brief statement.

“My dear colleagues, please I need your prayers. 

“My two daughters and their mother, including eight others, were kidnapped yesterday by unknown gunmen in Kaduna where they went for a holiday. 

“Pls pray for me.” He posted this information on the Kogi Correspondents’ Chapel WhatsApp platform.

He mentioned that he had contacted both the police and the Department of State Services.

Assurances were given that efforts were underway to rescue the victims and apprehend the kidnappers.

Threats to journalists in Northern Nigeria

Journalists’ safety in Northern Nigeria is increasingly threatened by frequent kidnappings and killings by gunmen.

The region’s terrorism, banditry, and conflicts have led to journalists being targeted for exposing these issues.

Therefore, the safety of media workers is severely compromised.

 Notable instances

Ahmed Salkida (2012, 2016): Ahmed Salkida, a prominent journalist known for his extensive reporting on Boko Haram, was targeted multiple times by gunmen and militant groups.

In 2012, he fled Nigeria after receiving death threats from Boko Haram due to his investigative reporting on their activities.

He was also arrested in 2016 upon his return to Nigeria, accused of having ties with the group, but was later released.

Salkida’s case highlights the risks journalists face covering insurgency in the North, with threats from both state and non-state actors.

Musa Abubakar (2021): In March 2021, Musa Abubakar, a Federal Radio Corporation reporter, was kidnapped by gunmen in Bakori, Katsina State.

He was released after an undisclosed ransom was reportedly paid.

Katsina, like many other northern states, has seen a rise in banditry.

Journalists are increasingly targeted due to their public profiles and perceived access to ransom resources.

Zakariya Isa (2011): Zakariya Isa, a journalist with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), was killed by Boko Haram in October 2011 in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The group claimed responsibility, accusing him of spying for the Nigerian military.

Isa’s killing marked one of the earliest and most significant targeted attacks on a journalist in Northern Nigeria.

It set a dangerous precedent for the treatment of media personnel in conflict zones.

Lawal Wazir (2019): In 2019, armed bandits abducted Lawal Wazir, a journalist with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Katsina State.

Negotiators eventually secured his release, but the incident underscored the growing trend of targeting journalists for ransom.

The abduction sparked widespread condemnation from press organizations and human rights groups, calling for better protection for journalists.

Overview

Journalists in Northern Nigeria face constant threats from armed groups, including Boko Haram, bandits, and occasionally state actors.

The environment of fear and intimidation has severely impacted press freedom, with many journalists self-censoring to avoid becoming targets.

The lack of effective law enforcement and impunity for perpetrators worsen the situation.

Targeting journalists does not only endanger their lives, but also stifles the flow of information from the region.

Fear of reprisal leads to under-reporting on insurgency, human rights abuses, and corruption, leaving the public less informed.

Ahmed Salkida, Musa Abubakar, Zakariya Isa, and Lawal Wazir represent the broader risks faced by journalists in Northern Nigeria.

Addressing these challenges needs joint efforts from government and international bodies to ensure journalist safety and uphold press freedom.

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