Nigeria: Kwara Journalist Raises Alarm Over Alleged Threat to Kill Him, Family

What the report says

Kwara-based journalist Usman Haruna, editor-in-chief of NupekoTV, has said he received a threatening SMS that warned he and his family could be harmed. According to Premium Times, the message arrived on 23 August while he was in Ilorin and was sent by someone identifying himself as “Biggy from Temidire.” Haruna said the sender claimed to have been monitoring him and his family and mentioned unidentified men allegedly involved in planning attacks.

Haruna said he did not reply to the text and has not received further contact from the sender. He told Premium Times that the message became more worrying because it appeared to include details about his family and home. He also said the station’s reporting on kidnapping, banditry, governance and development issues has previously attracted pressure, including requests to withdraw stories. In one recent case, he said a report on a badly damaged secondary school drew complaints, and he has also described earlier personal and organisational tensions linked to a protest he attended.

The journalist said he has informed security authorities and is preparing formal petitions to the police and the State Security Service, seeking help to identify the sender and verify the claims in the message. He said he is not accusing any person or group without evidence. The report also places the incident in a broader context of concern about press freedom in Nigeria, citing recent tensions involving journalists in Kaduna and calls by rights and media groups for police restraint and proper investigations.