The Coalition of Whistleblowers Protection and Press has denounced the harassment of Mr. Yakubu Mohammed, Editor of WikkiTimes and threats to his family’s in response to his articles that revealed how mining operations and terrorism were fostered in the Niger state.

Top media outlets and civil society groups, including the Premium Times, are members of the coalition, which promotes media freedom and they include The Cable, Daily Trust Newspaper, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), Civic Media Lab, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), International Press Centre (IPC), International Press Institute (IPI), Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Paradigm Initiative, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), HEDA Resources Centre, and WikkiTimes stated this on Wednesday.

A statement issued by the Deputy Director of the Journalism Programme, Ms Busola Ajibola on behalf of the coalition explained that the WikkiTimes editor has written an investigative report which allegedly exposed Eso Terra Investment Limited and Majelo Global Resources Limited for engaging in unethical practises such as bribing the armed bandits faction of Dogo Gide, a kingpin known for terrorism acts in Niger, Zamfara, Kaduna and Kebbi states.

Ms. Ajibola went on to say that because of the article written by Mr. Mohammed, Nigerian police have been harassing the editor and illegally tracking the phone contacts of his wife and family. She also said that the police had contacted his wife, which she deemed a threat to their fundamental freedom and freedom of speech rights.

The statement further quoted Mr Muhammad “It’s an abuse of the cyber tracking capabilities of law enforcement and my right to privacy. Without any attempt to reach me, these law enforcement officials started tracing my contacts, which led them to my wife, friend, and colleagues. These are the people I speak with often. Normally, I might have disregarded this, but the officer specifically informed my wife that he knew her location and that there was no need for her to hide anything. This is a clear threat to life.”

The Coalition added that the WikkiTimes editor also contacted the Niger Police Command and Bauchi Police Command, but the two states’ police commands denied the knowledge of the development.

Condemning the incident, CWPPF stated that instead of harassing the journalist and his family and friends the affected party should have sought to address with the judiciary if they felt defamed by Mr Mohammed’s report.

The CWPPF therefore urged the Nigerian authorities to open investigations into the actions of the police officers who unlawfully monitored Mr. Mohammed’s phone contacts and made threats against his wife, friends, and coworkers.

Additionally, they demanded that “the safety of Mr. Mohammed, his family, colleagues, and associates should be guaranteed by the Niger State Police Command, the Bauchi State Police Command, and the Federal Government.”

“The Federal government should urgently address the concerns in Mr Mohammed’s investigative report, specifically pertaining to illegal mining activities and their potential links to terrorism financing.

“ The reopening and diligent pursuit of all unsolved cases involving the murders of journalists, with a commitment to bringing the perpetrators of these crimes to justice and the safety and security of journalists, especially those committed to exposing corruption and injustice, are essential in ensuring the resilience of our democracy.

“The CWPPFT firmly stands with Mr Mohammed, his family, colleagues and friends and implores parties involved, particularly law enforcement officials, to respect and protect their fundamental human rights”, they said.

Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command said it will probe the threat to WikkiTimes Editor and author of an investigation on illegal mining and terrorism funding in Niger State, Yakubu Mohammed.

Apart from a threat to his life, Mohammed, in a report by WikkiTimes, said he also received coordinated threats against his wife, Nafisat, his friends and co-workers.

The Spokesperson to the Niger State Police Command Wasiu Abiodun said he was not aware of the matter but would find out more details from the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Command.

“Some of your colleagues have been calling me. I said let me find out if Niger State Police Command invited him. I got to know that he (Mohammed) was not around. As soon as he comes back, if the Police Command invited him, I will find out from the CIID whenever he comes back. He is not somebody that we don’t know. When he comes back, he’ll definitely honour the invitation,” Abiodun said.