Online Journalists condemn arrest of it's member in Kano | Newskeeper

Online Journalists condemn arrest of it's member in Kano

By Muhammad Salisu 

The Association of Kano Online Journalists (ASKOJ) has strongly condemned the persecution of one of its members, Mallam Buhari Abba, by the Kano Police Command.

ASKOJ in a statement signed by it's Chairman Yakubu Salisu and issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Kano said the police action was taken at the behest of the State Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waya.

The Association expressed disappointment that Waya, who has benefited from a free press throughout his career, would resort to such actions without exploring alternative dispute resolution methods with journalists. 

"It's appalling that Waya, who has benefited immensely from free press from his days at the Civil Society till now, will resort to such act without exploring alternative disputes settlement with the journalists," Salisu stated.

Buhari Abba, publisher of Kano Times, was detained by the police on Monday, March 24, and released on bail the following morning. 

During his detention, Abba was pressured to reveal the identity of the author of an opinion article critical of Waya and to provide the author's address.

ASKOJ views this as a blatant attempt to intimidate and suppress journalists, directly attacking the freedom of the press as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution. 

"We demand an immediate end to this attempt to gag the media and any further attempts to use law enforcement agencies against the press," the statement emphasized.

However, ASKOJ denounced Waya's misuse of state power to silence, oppress, and persecute journalists performing their constitutional duty as society's watchdog. 

ASKOJ therefore urged Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to intervene swiftly and halt all forms of persecution against journalists in Kano.

Accordingly the online journalists association in the statement reiterated it's commitment to defending press freedom and upholding journalistic code of ethics at all times. 

"We stand firmly with Buhari Abba and reaffirm our commitment to defending press freedom," it said.

ASKOJ therefore called on local and international press freedom organizations, human rights groups, and well-meaning Nigerians to speak out against this assault on press freedom.