On February 9, 2024, about 15 persons standing trial for the killing of the Village Head of Lambata in Niger State, Alhaji Muhammad Abdulsafur, assaulted cameramen from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Niger State Television (NSTV) and threatened journalists attending the resumed trial of their case, saying their continuous reporting of the case should stop.
The suspects, who were granted bail by Justice Aisha Bawa Wodu, of High Court 3, Suleja, Niger State, warned journalists that drastic action would be taken against them if they continued to report their court appearances.
The assaulted journalists were conducting interviews outside the courtroom when the suspects pounced on them as they left the courtroom. It took the intervention of the Court Registrar and their Counsel to bring the situation under control.
The suspects however warned the journalists that there would be consequences if they do not stay away from the trial.
They boasted that: “Henceforth, you journalists should stop reporting our court proceedings. If not, we are ready to deal with any journalists that dare to write anything about us.”
