Publisher of WikkiTimes Arrested in Bauchi on Governor’s Order while Covering Voters Protest 

By Ekemini Simon 

Haruna Mohammed, Publisher of WikkiTimes, a grassroots investigative journalism media organisation based in Bauchi has been arrested on the order of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed. 

Yakubu Mohammed, editor of WikkiTimes, in a statement on Sunday titled ‘WikkiTimes Publisher Arrested on Order of Bauchi Governor’ accused the police of violating Haruna’s rights on Bala Mohammed’s order.

The statement said the publisher was arrested on Saturday while covering a protest at Duguri, the governor’s hometown in the local council, during the general election in the state.

The media organisation said the publisher is being held at the police criminal investigation department in the state.

The statement reads “Before the arbitral arrest, Haruna was interviewing some women who were protesting that they submitted CVs but were not employed.

“During the course of the interview, the women started protesting that they would not vote.

“Soon, some hoodlums believed to be supporters of the governor attempted to lynch him before the police whisked him away.

“The police had earlier explained that he was taken away for his own safety but refused to release him until the governor gives an order.

“He has spent more than 24 hours in detention, and the police would not release him until the governor’s directive.

“He was accused of sending the video of the women to the opposition All Progressives Congress. However, the video was shared with me, and the police had examined my phone as well after taking my statement.

“The police are yet to communicate anything meaningful to the press as they continue to hold him, depriving him of his civic duty and fundamental rights.”