The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has issued a scathing condemnation following the physical assault of Musa Mikail, a Senior Reporter with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), by security operatives acting on the orders of the Niger State Governor’s Chief Security Officer (CSO).
The incident, which occurred on Friday, March 13, 2026, took place during a public event in Bida hosted by the Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar, in honor of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago.
Details of the Assault
According to a statement released by the CJID, Mr. Mikail was performing his constitutional duties, filming footage several meters away from the Governor, when he was confronted by the CSO, Mr. Shehu Abdulai Maikano. Despite the reporter identifying himself, Maikano, a police officer, reportedly subjected him to verbal abuse before ordering non-uniformed security personnel to deal with him mercilessly.
Witnesses state that Mr. Mikail was severely beaten, kicked, and forcibly ejected from the venue. Alarmingly, the CSO reportedly ignored pleas from other journalists and even disregarded an intervention by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), who eventually advised the bloodied reporter to flee for his life as security men continued to hunt for him.
“This blatant act of thuggery by a taxpayer-funded police officer is a disgraceful violation of human rights and a direct attack on press freedom,” CJID stated. “The persistent executive recklessness exhibited by officials in Niger State signals a desperate attempt to silence journalists and ultimately cripple democratic governance.”
A Pattern of Systematic Intimidation
The CJID noted that this attack is not an isolated event but part of a deeply disturbing, systematic trend of media repression in Niger State under the current administration. The organization highlighted several recent incidents, in February 2026 Journalist Ahmed Isah Sakpe was detained by police over alleged defamation following a complaint from a state protocol officer, in November 2025, Governor Bago ordered the shutdown and demolition of Badeggi FM Radio over claims of inciting the public, in 2025, freelance journalist Ibrahim Ndamitso was handed over to police for “profiling” simply for asking the Governor questions, and in November 2023, VOA correspondent Mustapha Batsari was assaulted by the Commissioner of Homeland Security at the Government House.
Demands for Accountability
In response to the escalating hostility, the CJID has laid out a series of demands to ensure justice for Mr. Mikail and the protection of the press:
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Immediate prosecution of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tunji Disu, and Governor Bago must identify, suspend, and prosecute CSO Shehu Abdulai Maikano and the involved private security personnel.
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Public apology from the Niger State Government must issue a formal apology to Musa Mikail and the NTA, covering all medical expenses and equipment damages.
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Institutional Reform, where the the state must end its culture of hostility and re-orient security agencies on the constitutional role of the media.
The CJID maintains that any officer with such total disregard for the press is unfit for duty in a democratic society.
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