Christian Journalist arrested in Nigeria
Barnabas Fund, 22 November 2021
A Nigerian Christian journalist faces prolonged imprisonment following his reporting of attacks against mainly Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and critical assessment of the government’s response.
Luka Binniyat was charged under the Cybercrimes Act with transmitting electronically information known “to be false”.
He has persistently challenged the narratives of the Kaduna State government on the issues of security and the killings in southern Kaduna.
The charge relates to his story on 29 October, “In Nigeria, Police Decry Massacres as ‘Wicked’ But Make No Arrests”, quoting Senator Danjuma Laah, who criticised Kaduna’s Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs Samuel Aruwan for concealing facts concerning a “genocide against Christians in the southern Kaduna State”.
He has “written a lot about the plight of the people under the persistent attacks by Islamist Fulani militia groups and challenged Kaduna State government narratives on issues of security and killings in southern Kaduna”.
Binniyat “has remained resolute in challenging the information put out by the Kaduna State government”. If convicted, he could face a 3-year prison sentence.
Attacks on Christian communities in Kaduna State have been numerous. In his report, he was critical of police for failing to make arrests after gunmen killed 35 people in 2 separate attacks on churches on 26 September.