By Bavoriat Clara
The Arewa Broadcast Media Practitioners Forum (ABMPF) has issued a stern warning to the Niger State Government, threatening a complete media boycott of all official activities over what it describes as continued harassment and suppression of press freedom in the state.
Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Abdullahi Yelwa, Ajiyan Yauri, made the declaration following a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Badeggi FM, Minna, Mr. Mohammed Shuaibu Badeggi, whose station has allegedly been targeted by the state government despite operating within the legal framework of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
“I spoke this morning with Mr. Mohammed Shuaibu Badeggi, who confirmed that Badeggi FM remains operational despite illegal directives from the Governor,” Alhaji Yelwa stated. “However, state machinery continues to be deployed in a bid to harass and silence the station, which is constitutionally mandated to inform the public.”
Yelwa commended the National Broadcasting Commission for resisting what he termed “unlawful orders” from Governor Mohammed Umar Bago to shut down the station. He also praised the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, for affirming that the Niger State Government lacks the authority to regulate or shut down any NBC-licensed broadcasting outfit.
“We call on the Governor to immediately rein in his foot soldiers. If this campaign of intimidation continues, we will have no option but to instruct all member stations within Niger State to suspend coverage of all government-related activities,” the Forum Chairman warned.
Yelwa further lamented what he described as a persistent marginalization of indigenous Northern media organizations, noting that while billions of naira are annually channeled to media houses based in the Lagos-Ibadan axis, local media in the North are neglected and, in some cases, deliberately undermined.
“In a period marked by insecurity and economic hardship, public officials must learn to be tolerant of divergent views. Leadership should not be wielded as a tool for silencing criticism but used in service of the people,” he emphasized. “The media is not the enemy — it is the mirror through which society sees itself.”
He called on all member stations facing intimidation to forward details of such incidents to the ABMPF Secretariat for coordinated action.
The Forum insists that any attempt to stifle free speech and independent journalism will be met with unified resistance, affirming its commitment to protecting press freedom across Northern Nigeria.
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