Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
The press corps in Yobe State is demanding justice following a physical assault on Nigerian Television Authority NTA reporter Mr. Babagana Kolo by the Chief Security Officer CSO of the Yobe State Government House, CSP Yakubu Zakari Deba.
The incident occurred on Thursday at the Yobe State House of Assembly complex, where journalists had gathered to cover Governor Mai Mala Buni’s presentation of the 2026 budget proposal.
According to eyewitness accounts, CSP Deba confronted Kolo and struck him in the face, causing visible injuries to his mouth. The unprovoked attack immediately disrupted media preparations for the budget presentation and prompted journalists to threaten a collective boycott of the event.
Read Also: No Massacre in Yobe – Police, NUJ Slam False Reports
The situation was only defused following the intervention of the State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, who persuaded journalists to proceed with coverage despite the assault.
This is not the first time CSP Deba has been involved in an altercation with journalists. The officer, who has served in the Yobe Government House for nearly two decades beginning as an Inspector and later serving as Aide-de-Camp to the then-Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam has a history of strained relations with the press. In 2022, his conduct led to a temporary media boycott of government activities.
In response to the latest incident, the Yobe State Police Commissioner, CP Emmanuel Ado, has promised to investigate the matter and take appropriate action. Journalists across the state are closely monitoring the situation, insisting that accountability and respect for press freedom are non-negotiable.