Prominent socio-political activist, Aisha Yesufu, has raised concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s administration following the recent arrests of investigative journalists in Nigeria. In a video shared on her official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, Yesufu questioned why a journalist would be “arrested and treated worse than a terrorist.”
Yesufu’s remarks come in the wake of the arrest of investigative journalist and whistleblower @PIDOMNIGERIA by the Nigeria Police Force. The journalist, known for exposing confidential information from both government and private entities, was reportedly apprehended in Rivers State on August 5. The police confirmed the arrest on August 24, sparking widespread outrage, particularly on social media, with many Nigerians demanding the journalist’s immediate release.
In her video, Yesufu did not hold back as she called on President Tinubu to explain the motive behind the crackdown on investigative journalism.
“When did investigative journalism become a crime? When did exposing government wrongdoing become an offense?” she asked pointedly.
She continued, “Is it not the wrongdoing itself that should be a crime? With the arrest of @PIDOMNIGERIA and the harassment of other investigative journalists, it’s clear that Tinubu is well aware of the misconduct happening within his government. He seems determined to keep these wrongdoings hidden from the public.”
Yesufu’s statements reflect growing concern among Nigerians about the freedom of the press and the protection of whistleblowers under Tinubu’s administration. She concluded by challenging the president directly, saying, “Mr. Tinubu, what are you hiding? Why are you so angry that journalists are exposing the truth? Instead of silencing them, why not focus on correcting the wrongs and delivering good governance?”
