KADUNA, Nigeria — The wife and two daughters of Kogi-based journalist Muhammed Bashir were among ten family members abducted on August 8, 2024, by unknown gunmen in Kaduna State.
The incident underscores the growing dangers faced by journalists and their families in Northern Nigeria, where the threat of violence against media workers continues to rise.
Bashir, a correspondent with Nigeria Telegraph, shared the distressing news with his colleagues today in a brief statement released from Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
“My dear colleagues, please I need your prayers,” Bashir wrote. “My two daughters and their mother, including eight others, were kidnapped yesterday by unknown gunmen in Kaduna where they went for a holiday. Pls pray for me.”
Bashir also confirmed that he had contacted both the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), who assured him that efforts were being made to rescue the victims and apprehend the kidnappers.
The abduction is the latest in a series of attacks targeting journalists and their families in Northern Nigeria, a region plagued by terrorism, banditry, and ongoing conflicts.
These threats have created an increasingly hostile environment for the press, as media workers are targeted for their role in exposing issues within the region.
The safety of journalists in Northern Nigeria has been severely compromised by frequent kidnappings and killings, with several notable cases in recent years.
In 2012 and 2016, Ahmed Salkida, a prominent journalist known for his extensive reporting on Boko Haram, was repeatedly targeted by gunmen and militant groups.
His investigative reporting led to death threats and eventual exile, only to be arrested upon his return to Nigeria, accused of having ties with the insurgent group—a charge he was later cleared of.
Musa Abubakar, a Federal Radio Corporation reporter, was kidnapped in March 2021 in Bakori, Katsina State, and later released after an undisclosed ransom was reportedly paid.
Similarly, in October 2011, Zakariya Isa, a journalist with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), was killed by Boko Haram in Maiduguri, Borno State, marking one of the earliest and most significant targeted attacks on a journalist in the region.
In 2019, armed bandits abducted Lawal Wazir, a journalist with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Katsina State.
Though he was eventually released, his abduction highlighted the growing trend of targeting journalists for ransom, prompting widespread condemnation from press organizations and human rights groups.
Journalists in Northern Nigeria face constant threats from armed groups, including Boko Haram, bandits, and occasionally state actors.
The fear and intimidation tactics employed by these groups have significantly impacted press freedom, leading to widespread self-censorship among journalists, who avoid reporting on sensitive topics to protect themselves and their families.
The targeting of journalists not only endangers their lives but also stifles the flow of information from the region.
With the growing risks, there is a pressing need for coordinated efforts by the government and international bodies to ensure the safety of journalists and uphold press freedom in Northern Nigeria.
