The longest-serving editor of BBC Hausa, Aliyu Tanko, has resigned after 17 years at the broadcaster, amid allegations of workplace maltreatment raised by a former colleague.
Tanko confirmed his resignation in a message to local DCL Hausa on Thursday, saying he stepped down voluntarily but declined to comment on the allegations.
The claims surfaced after Halima Umar Saleh, now Senior Digital Editor at TRT Afrika, said in an interview with Arewa24 that she was subjected to harassment and unfair treatment while working under Tanko at the BBC.
The clip was later removed from the broadcaster’s platforms, sparking online debate over editorial independence.
A source familiar with the matter said that petitions had been submitted to the BBC’s headquarters in London calling for an investigation into the allegations.
In July, Kano Times reported that several former staff members had accused the BBC Hausa Service of workplace bullying and harassment. Saleh described her experience as “one of the most painful moments” of her career, alleging that a male colleague repeatedly threatened her job security despite acknowledging that she was performing well.
The BBC has not publicly commented on the latest claims.