Amnesty International has strongly condemned Niger State Governor Umar Bago for ordering the closure of Badeggi 90.1 FM Radio Minna, describing the action as unlawful and a direct attack on press freedom in Nigeria.

In a statement released on Saturday via their official X (formerly Twitter) account, the human rights organization criticized the governor's accusations that the radio station was inciting violence, calling it an abuse of power and an unacceptable intolerance of critical voices.

"The governor's claim that the radio station is causing violence and his careless order to cancel its license show an abuse of power and a refusal to accept criticism. The decision to shut down the radio station is wrong and cannot be justified," Amnesty International stated.

The organization highlighted the irony of targeting a media outlet while more pressing security challenges plague the state. "While bandits and insurgents are ravaging Niger state through killings and massive displacements of rural communities, with both the federal government and Niger state failing to protect lives, pointing accusing fingers at a radio station clearly shows a failure of leadership," the statement continued.

Amnesty International further noted that the attack on Badeggi 90.1 FM represents a troubling pattern aimed at intimidating newsrooms across Nigeria and hampering journalists' ability to perform their duties effectively.

The rights group called on Governor Bago to immediately withdraw his order, emphasizing that under Nigerian law, a state governor lacks the authority to shut down a radio station. They described the governor's actions as "bizarrely blaming a radio station for the inexcusable security failures of the government" and "an open attack on media freedom."

According to Amnesty International, targeting independent media effectively denies citizens access to honest and balanced reporting on issues affecting their daily lives.

The controversy began on Thursday when Governor Bago ordered the closure of the private radio station, alleging incitement of violence and unethical practices.

This incident adds to growing concerns about press freedom in Nigeria, where journalists and media organizations increasingly face challenges in carrying out their constitutional role of holding power to account.

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