Bello Mohammed, governor of the northwestern Nigerian state of Zamfara and member of the center-left All Progressive Congress party, completely stuck it to the biased right wingers in the media on Sunday, shutting down five outlets after they covered a rally held by the opposition conservative People’s Democratic Party in violation of a ban on all political activity in the region ahead of elections in February 2023, Reuters reports. “Zamfara State Commissioner of Police has been directed to enforce full compliance and arrest of any staff of these media organizations… performing any duties in violation of the shut down,” said the state security council in a statement.
The Zamfara government named Pride FM Radio Gusau, NTA Gusau, Amji TV Gusau, Gamji TV Gusau, and Alumma TV Gusau as the outlets shut down in the statement. It’s not clear if they will be permitted to open up for business again before or after the elections. The ban on political activity is a response to an ongoing surge in violence and kidnappings by armed gangs in the region, though it’s not clear if the crimes have any ethnic, religious, or ideological motivation behind them.