The Information Minister-designate, Fatimatu Abubakar, has urged the security agencies in charge of investigating the death of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale to expedite their work so that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Ahmed Suale was shot twice in the chest and once in the neck to death by faceless assailants riding motorcycles on Wednesday, January 16, 2019.
Five years on, the matter still hangs on unresolved, raising serious concerns for the safety of journalists in the country.
Asked during her appearance before the Appointments Committee on Friday, March 8, 2024, what she would do to bring closure to the matter, she responded that she had been briefed by the former minister, and urged that security agencies speed up the process.
“It is a matter that brings great sadness to me and all of us in the information sector. That being said, I’ve been briefed by the former minister that the case is still open and there is an active ongoing investigation so we can only count on the security agencies to double and make sure justice is delivered to the family and all loved ones, she said.
she also condemned attacks on journalists and called for intensifying education for people to understand that under no circumstances should someone attack a journalist.
“First of all I would like to acknowledge that under no circumstance should any journalist be threatened or should fear of reporting what they ought to report because of threats or actual violence on them. I join all like-minded people in condemning any act of threat or use of force on a journalist. That being said, it is important that we join hands in public sensitization as to avenues of redress to people who feel there has been some negative reportage against them or they do not agree with journalists in the way they are executing their work,” she said.
