How My Editor Asked Me To Interview Shekau — Bwala
Dr. James Bwala, a lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Bingham University, has recounted a chilling experience from his days as a practicing journalist, revealing how his editor once instructed him to locate and interview late Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.
Bwala made the revelation during an interview with Trust TV, where he reflected on the dangers journalists faced while covering the Boko Haram insurgency at the peak of attacks in Nigeria’s North-East.
According to him, the incident happened while he was working with the Nigerian Tribune newspaper. He explained that his editor directed him to find Shekau and secure an exclusive interview despite the grave security risks associated with such a mission at the time.
Bwala said the assignment immediately raised serious concerns about safety, considering the unpredictable nature of Boko Haram attacks and the volatile atmosphere across parts of the region.
Recounting his response to the editor, he disclosed that he was unwilling to embark on the dangerous mission alone.
“When I was with Nigerian Tribune my editor told me to look for Shekau and interview him. I told him that, ‘If you will leave Ibadan and come to Maiduguri I will take you there, but for me to go alone I will not,’” he said.
The media scholar noted that journalists reporting conflict situations often faced difficult choices between pursuing exclusive stories and protecting their own lives.
He stressed that covering insurgency-related stories during that period required not only courage but also careful consideration of security realities, especially in areas repeatedly targeted by Boko Haram fighters.
Bwala’s account highlights the extreme risks many Nigerian journalists endured while reporting from conflict zones during one of the country’s most violent security crises.
