Tension has continued to rise in Niger State following the invasion of Badeggi Radio Station by suspected armed men in Minna, the state capital.
The incident reportedly occurred late at night at the station’s office located within the premises of the National Television Authority (NTA), causing panic among workers and nearby residents.
Sources familiar with the development disclosed that the unidentified attackers allegedly gained access through a section of the compound before advancing toward the radio station’s operational area.
Security personnel stationed within the premises were said to have responded swiftly after noticing unusual movement, forcing the intruders to flee the scene.
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Although no life was lost during the incident, parts of the station’s perimeter security, including sections of the barbed wire fence, were reportedly damaged during the attack.
Reacting to the invasion, the Chief Executive Officer of Badeggi Radio, Alhaji Shuaibu Badeggi, said the motive behind the attack remained uncertain but suggested it could be linked to the station’s editorial position and refusal to bow to pressure from certain interests.
He maintained that the station would not compromise its style of broadcasting or abandon its commitment to reporting issues affecting the public despite the growing tension.
The development comes months after a major dispute between the Niger State Government and the station over allegations surrounding some of its broadcasts.
The state government had earlier ordered the shutdown of the radio station and initiated moves to revoke its operating licence over claims that its programmes were capable of inciting public disaffection.
The action sparked reactions from media organisations and civil society groups, many of whom condemned the move and described it as an attack on press freedom.
However, following legal proceedings, a Niger State High Court reportedly restrained the government from enforcing the closure order pending the determination of the suit filed by the station.
Authorities are said to have commenced investigations into the latest attack as concerns grow over the safety of journalists and media establishments in the country.
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