The Chairman of Rijau Local Government Area in Niger State, Danladi Uganda, has directed security agencies to arrest any journalist who posts photograph of elected politician considered defamatory.
This was contained in e directive dated June 8, 2025, titled “New Procedures for All Media Members in Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State,” from the Office of the chairman.
The directive has stirred concerns over press freedom and the possible misuse of security agencies to suppress media activities.
The statement warned journalists in the area to refrain from defaming political officeholders, especially those described as “elected.”
“We hereby instruct all security officers in Rijau Local Government to: Any media person who posts a photo of a politician, especially elected leaders, in the name of defamation will face the Security Agency to answer questions about it.
“Furthermore, there is no evidence or reason to cancel the picture of a politician. Most of whom are specially elected, crossing the red line X, doing so is tantamount to threatening his life, and whoever does so will face punishment from security forces, no matter who he is.
“Finally, there is no stopping you from challenging a politician as long as he does what is right for him, because the law of the land gives you this right (Freedom of press and expression according to the 1999 constitution). But don’t dare take down his picture,” it read.
Some journalists in Rijau Local Government have describied the directive as a clampdown on the media.
