Yakubu Mohammed, editor of the Wikki Times Magazine, is said to have been the target of targeted harassment, according to the Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF).
Following his investigative report that revealed terrorism funding and illegal mining activities in Niger State, Mohammed is reportedly the target of security personnel.
The Coalition alleged that the editor is being harassed alongside his wife, colleagues, and friends in a statement signed by the Deputy Director of the Journalism Program, Busola Ajibola, and made available to Naijacrawl in Taraba.
The Coalition urged the Federal Government to address the problems brought up in the investigative report immediately as well.
“The Federal Government should urgently address the concerns in Mohammed’s investigative report, specifically pertaining to illegal mining activities and their potential links to terrorism financing,” the Coalition said.
The Coalition noted that it “is also particularly concerned about the unresolved killings of journalists in Nigeria, particularly the death of Tordue Salem of the Vanguard newspaper, whose body was found after 29 days of being declared missing.
“It is important that those responsible for these heinous acts are fished out and held accountable for justice to be diligently served.”
Rather than going about intimidating, harassing, and killing journalists, the group urged those who feel aggrieved over media reports to always seek redress in court.
“The CWPPF firmly believes that if any party feels defamed by Mohammed’s report, the appropriate course of action should be through the judicial system rather than resorting to abuse of the powers of the Police as a means to undermine Mr Mohammed’s security and peace of mind. ”
The group equally called on the Nigerian authorities to immediately launch a transparent and comprehensive investigation into the actions of the police officers who illegally tracked Mohammed’s phone contacts and issued threats to his wife, colleagues, and friends.
The Coalition demanded that the police commands in Niger and Bauchi states, as well as the Federal Government, guarantee the safety of Mohammed, his family members, colleagues, and associates.
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