Niger State Police Command has detained journalist and political critic Babakura Aninigi after he honoured an invitation to appear before the command over allegations of cybercrime, defamation of character and related offences.

Aninigi was reportedly detained at the police command headquarters after appearing on Monday, October 19, 2026, following an invitation issued by the CP Monitoring Unit.

According to SaharaReporters, the police invited the journalist for questioning over allegations connected to his criticism of the All Progressives Congress-led government in Niger State and his comments about the performance of elected officials in Paikoro Local Government Area.

Police Invitation Dated October 16

The invitation letter, dated October 16 and signed by CSP Caroline E.C. Ugorji, directed Aninigi to appear before the Commissioner of Police through the officer in charge of the CP Monitoring Unit at 10 a.m. on October 19.

The letter stated that the police were investigating alleged cybercrime, defamation of character and other related offences in which the journalist was said to have featured prominently.

However, the letter did not specify the particular statements or online publications that prompted the investigation.

Aninigi had earlier disclosed the invitation in a Facebook post, where he expressed his willingness to cooperate with the authorities and present evidence to support his position.

“We are law-abiding citizens, and we will honour the invitation and present all the necessary evidence to support our position,” he wrote.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to accountability, transparency and good governance in Paikoro.

Journalist Had Criticised Lawmaker

A source familiar with the situation told SaharaReporters that Aninigi had consistently questioned the performance of elected representatives and called for accountability over campaign promises and governance issues affecting residents of Paikoro.

The source specifically mentioned Umar Nasir Paiko, a member of the Niger State House of Assembly representing Paikoro Constituency, as one of the officials whose performance had attracted the journalist’s scrutiny.

The source also alleged that Aninigi had questioned the identity of a Facebook account operating under a pseudonym, which the source suspected could be linked to the lawmaker. That alleged connection has not been independently established.

The source claimed that the journalist’s criticism was followed by attempts to intimidate him through police involvement and the Criminal Investigation Department.

These claims have not been independently verified.

Concerns Over Press Freedom

The detention has raised concerns about the treatment of journalists who scrutinise public officials and question government performance.

Public officials may be subject to scrutiny over their conduct and performance, while allegations of criminal wrongdoing must be investigated in accordance with the law.

The police invitation and reported detention do not establish that Aninigi committed any offence. The specific allegations against him remain unproven, and the outcome of the investigation is not yet known.

As of the report published on October 19, the Niger State Police Command had not publicly detailed the specific statements or online publications at the centre of the investigation.