Amnesty International Slams Niger Governor Over Closure of Badeggi FM, Calls Action Unlawful

Amnesty International has strongly criticized the Governor of Niger State, Umar Bago, over his recent order to shut down Badeggi 90.1 FM Radio in Minna, describing the move as an unlawful act and a blatant attack on press freedom in Nigeria.

In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, the human rights organization condemned the governor’s decision, stating that his actions reflect a clear abuse of power and an unwillingness to tolerate dissenting voices.

“The governor’s claim that the radio station is inciting violence and his careless order to revoke its license show a disturbing misuse of authority,” the statement read. “The decision to shut down Badeggi FM is unjustifiable and deeply troubling.”

Amnesty International emphasized that while Niger State continues to grapple with worsening insecurity—marked by rampant bandit attacks and widespread displacement of rural populations—the government’s decision to blame a media outlet for these failures underscores a troubling failure of leadership.

“Bandits and insurgents continue to ravage Niger State, and instead of addressing the real security crisis, the government is targeting independent journalism,” the group said. “This is a diversionary tactic that does nothing to protect lives but instead suppresses access to truthful information.”

The organization also warned that the clampdown on Badeggi FM is part of a broader, growing pattern of intimidation and censorship aimed at silencing the media in Nigeria.

“Targeting independent media is a deliberate attempt to stifle access to credible news and deny the public the right to be informed about issues that affect their lives,” Amnesty stated.

Reiterating the legal framework governing media regulation in Nigeria, Amnesty noted that Governor Bago has no constitutional authority to unilaterally shut down a radio station or revoke its license.

“Governor Bago must immediately withdraw his unlawful order and allow independent voices to operate without fear,” the statement concluded.

Governor Bago ordered the closure of the radio station on Thursday, accusing it of inciting violence and engaging in unethical practices. The directive has since sparked widespread backlash from press freedom advocates and civil society organizations.