Amnesty International has strongly condemned the arrest of investigative reporter Ahmed Isa Sakpe by the Niger State Police Command, alleging the detention was carried out on the orders of a Niger State government official over unsubstantiated claims of “cyberbullying.”
The rights group described the arrest as an unlawful attempt to intimidate a journalist for performing professional duties and called on both the Niger State government and the Nigeria Police Force to uphold the constitutional and internationally recognized right to freedom of expression.
Amnesty International emphasized that harassing, threatening, or punishing journalists for critical reporting violates the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights standards. The organization stressed that a free and independent press is vital for any functioning democracy.
The group further urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to issue a clear directive to security and law enforcement agencies to refrain from targeting critical journalists and independent media outlets.
