IPI Nigeria Urges Tinubu to Address Press Freedom Violations

The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the actions of Niger State Governor Moham Umar Bago, which they claim infringe upon press freedom. This appeal follows a recent incident involving Musa Mikail, a senior reporter for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), who was assaulted by security personnel while covering a Ramadan Iftar event at the Etsu Nupe Palace in Bida, Niger State, on March 13, 2026.

During the event, Mikail was instructed by Shehu Abdullahi Maikano, the chief security officer to Governor Bago, to move from his position, despite his explanation that he was not obstructing anyone in the performance of his journalistic duties. The IPI highlighted this incident as part of a disturbing trend of hostility towards journalists and called it a blatant violation of press freedom, urging the governor to ensure that such actions do not recur.