By Muhammad Abubakar
The BBC has suspended Aliyu Tanko, the editor of its Hausa Service, due to bullying allegations, and has refused his resignation attempt.
Tanko, who took charge of the service in 2020, was handed a three-month suspension after former staffer Halima Umar Saleh accused him of mistreatment. The BBC has now launched a full investigation, with a team flown in from London to Abuja.
Sources say Tanko tried to resign a day after his suspension, but the corporation refused, insisting he must follow due process — either serve a two-month notice period or pay in lieu.
In an interview with Daily Nigerian, Tanko confirmed that he had resigned but declined to comment on the allegations. Attempts to reach him directly were unsuccessful.
Halima Umar, now a Senior Digital Editor at TRT Africa, had earlier spoken out in an interview with Arewa24, alleging Tanko maltreated her during her BBC days. The clip was later pulled down, sparking debate on social media.
BBC Hausa, with more than 40 staff across Nigeria and beyond, is the corporation’s biggest African language service. It reaches over 23 million weekly radio listeners and drives 10 million website visits.
Under Tanko’s leadership, the service rolled out hit shows like Daga Bakin Mai Ita, Ku San Malamanku, and Mahangar Zamani.