Three Niger Journalists Jailed Over Cybercrime Charges For Sharing Press Invite

By FATIMA HUSSAINI

AUTHORITIES in Niger have jailed three journalists — Ibro Chaibou, Youssouf Sériba, and Oumarou Abou Kané — on cybercrime charges after they allegedly shared a government press invitation with an exiled aide of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the trio were remanded in Kollo prison on 3 November, while three others — Moussa Kaka, Souleymane Oumarou Brah, and Abdoul Aziz Idé — were released under judicial supervision.

The journalists face charges of “disseminating data likely to disturb public order,” an offense carrying up to five years in prison under Niger’s tightened cybercrime laws introduced by junta leader Abdourahamane Tchiani.

CPJ condemned the arrests, calling them evidence of Niger’s worsening press freedom climate and urging authorities to drop the charges and free the detained journalists.