Gov. Bala’s security aide, Abdul threatens clampdown on journalists in Bauchi

By: Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi

The members of correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Bauchi state chapter on Thursday, decried the incessant/ unwarranted threat and clampdown on journalists on duty in the state, by a DSS personnel, popularly known as Abdul.

The Nations News Nigeria reports that Abdul is a DSS personnel, attached with the Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir.

Investigation revealed that Abdul and few others have continually attacked journalists, and innocent citizens of the state that participated in the ongoing nationwide ‘Endbadgovernance/ hunger protest in the state.

It was gathered that Abdul threatened to deal excessively with the members of the correspondent chapel who wanted to record the governor’s speech at his (Gov. Bala) visit to the emir’s palace.

It was equally learnt that the journalists were frustrated from carrying out their duties by the DSS personnel, Abdul who prevented them from recording the speech of the governor and as well, ordered them to vacate the Emir’s palace hall where the event took place.

The journalists were looking for an alternative spot to get their job done within the hall, before Abdul went to them again, to threaten them by staying: “This is just the beginning,” even as the governor, in company with other dignitaries, had seated next to his host, the emir of Katagum. 

One of the journalists who spoke to The Nations News Nigeria on anonymity said that “He once molested me at a function, he is quite aggressive,” .

Similarly, some of the personnel had on Thursday last week brutalized a person living with disability identified as Hamza Waziri, who is now being hospitalized at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital. Waziri was participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest in front of the government house.

He was seen in a trending video clip where four police officers attached to the Government House entrance were assaulting him.

Also, Aisha Dogara, a resident of Bauchi who participated in the protest was assaulted with her clothes torn. Bruises were seen all over her body.