Odita Sunday 
HURIWA Tells IGP: Stop Police Pursuit Of JKD Journalist Over Masari Video
By Odita Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to stop what it described as the harassment of JKD Radio/Television journalist, Zainab Salihu Yabagi, over a video concerning Ibrahim Masari, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The call followed reports that armed policemen stormed the Millennium City, Kaduna, premises of JKD Radio/Television on September 11, 2026, allegedly in search of Yabagi over the broadcast. The station’s General Manager, Charles Abah, and a security officer were also reportedly arrested and detained for several hours.
In a statement issued on Monday, HURIWA National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, said the police should stop further harassment of Yabagi and other employees of the station, arguing that any dispute over alleged defamation should be taken to court.
According to the group, the police initially said they were looking for Yabagi in connection with a stolen phone but later indicated that she was wanted over allegations including criminal conspiracy, defamation, cyberstalking and bullying allegedly linked to Masari.
HURIWA said it was concerned that police powers could be used to settle what it described as a dispute arising from a journalistic broadcast.
“If the Special Adviser believes that the broadcast defamed him, the appropriate response is to approach a competent court and seek redress,” the group said.
It also cautioned against the use of cybercrime laws in a manner that could turn disputes over alleged defamation into criminal investigations, arrests or intimidation of journalists.
HURIWA said journalists were not above the law and should be held accountable where there is credible evidence of a criminal offence, but insisted that such cases must be handled through due process.
The association further pointed to Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution, which assigns the media a role in holding government accountable to the people.
It argued that journalists would struggle to perform that responsibility if they had to work under the fear of arrest whenever their reports or commentaries displeased public officials.
HURIWA also urged the police leadership to review the circumstances surrounding the Kaduna operation, particularly the reported involvement of a Special Adviser to the President.
The group said holding public office should not shield anyone from criticism or give any individual access to state security machinery for the settlement of personal disputes.
It therefore called on the IGP to ensure that Yabagi and other JKD Radio/Television workers are not subjected to further harassment over the matter.
HURIWA also urged anyone who believes they have been defamed by the broadcast to pursue the remedies provided by law, rather than resorting to what it described as state coercion.
The association said protecting journalists from arbitrary arrest and intimidation was necessary to preserve media freedom and the media’s constitutional role in holding public authorities accountable.
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