The fragile state of press freedom in Nigeria faces another test as police in Niger State detain journalist Ahmed Isah Sakpe. The reporter, known popularly as "Ahmed Lee," is being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) following a complaint by a top government aide.

Sakpe, a staff member of the Minna-based radio station Prestige FM, was taken into custody on Monday.The arrest was triggered by a petition from Mohammed Gimba, a protocol aide to Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago.The contention centers on a press statement published on the "Crusader Radio" Facebook platform, which Sakpe manages, regarding a political crisis in the Niger South Senatorial District.

Charges of Defamation

The police command spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the detention, citing allegations of "falsehood, defamation of character, and cyberbullying." The authorities claim the post violated the cybercrime laws, a statute increasingly used to silence dissenting voices in the digital space.

• The Complaint: The petition accuses Sakpe of publishing malicious content intended to damage the reputation of the Governor's aide.
• The Process: Sakpe was "invited" for questioning—a common euphemism for arrest—and has been detained pending the conclusion of the investigation and subsequent charging in court.

This incident is not an isolated one.It comes just months after the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria placed Governor Bago on its "Book of Infamy" for the closure of another radio station, Badeggi FM. The pattern suggests a systematic intolerance for critical media in the state.

A Chilling Effect

The detention of Ahmed Isah Sakpe sends a chilling message to journalists across the region: reporting on political conflict comes with the risk of incarceration. As the investigation proceeds, civil society groups are watching closely, fearing that the cyberbullying laws are being weaponized to shield public officials from scrutiny.

For now, Sakpe remains behind bars, the latest casualty in the ongoing struggle for a free and independent press in Nigeria.