Nigerian Police Order the Closure of Niamey-Based TV Channel

Shortly after Radio-TV Labari broadcast its evening TV news programme on 25 March, a senior police officer arrived at its studies and demanded a copy of the broadcast, which had included an interview with an activist about a street protest against the finance law that was staged earlier in the day, although banned by the authorities. “He demanded a copy of our news programme,” Radio-TV Labari interim director Razak Idrissa told RSF. “We replied that only the High Council for Communication, the media regulatory authority, has that right.” In response to Radio-TV Labari’s refusal, the police ordered its immediate closure. Since then, access to the TV channel’s premises has been blocked by members of the National Guard stationed outside.