The International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos-Nigeria is concerned about the lack of information on the whereabout of Abdulwahab Babankanti, Jos reporter of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), who was abducted along the Bauchi – Jos highway on Monday, January 30th, 2023.
A report from https://thisnigeria.com/ revealed that Babankanti and three others were abducted in Toro community. “We got to know when the kidnappers called us to confirm that Babakanti and his friends were in their custody. The kidnappers have placed a N10m ransom on the reporter.”
IPC Press Freedom Officer, Melody Lawal said: “The spate of insecurity in the country is of serious concern to all adding that it is alarming that journalists and media practitioners have also become easy targets.”
Calling on the security agencies to intensify their efforts and do all they can to ensure that Babankanti is set free without being harmed in any way, Lawal noted that this case, if not quickly resolved could aggravate safety concerns for journalists even as the general elections draw near.
“We implore the security agencies to put all hands on deck to secure the release of the concerned journalist quickly.”
SGD:
Melody Lawal
Press Freedom Officer, IPC
melodyakinjiyan@ipcng.org
