Amnesty: Kano Government Must End Intimidation of Journalists
Amnesty International has condemned the arrest of two Kano-based journalists by the police on the orders of the state government, describing it as an act of harassment and intimidation.
The police detained Buhari Abba, an online publisher, and Ismail Auwal, a freelance journalist, over a report critical of the state’s Commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Waiya.
According to Amnesty International, such actions violate press freedom and must stop immediately.
“Buhari Abba, an Online Editor with Kano Times, was invited by the Kano State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) of the Kano Police Command, where he was detained for hours.
“All these bizarre acts of intimidation are connected to an opinion article published by Kano Times. Plans to charge both journalists with defamation are unacceptable and show utter disregard for freedom of expression and unlawful intolerance of dissenting voices.
“Kano State government and the Nigeria police must uphold their obligation to respect and facilitate everyone’s right to freedom of expression.
“Attempts to use the police to punish Buhari Abba Rano and Isma’il Auwal must end, and their human rights and safety must be guaranteed,” the rights organisation warned.
The controversy began on February 24 when Kano Times published an article authored by Auwal titled Dear Governor Yusuf, Beware of Kano Information Commissioner Ibrahim Waiya.
In the piece, Auwal cautioned Governor Yusuf about the potential political and administrative consequences of retaining Waiya as Commissioner of Information. He argued that Waiya’s tenure had created a rift between civil society organisations (CSOs) and the government, leading to legal disputes.
Auwal underscored the historical role of CSOs in supporting the governor, particularly during the 2019 and 2023 elections, warning that their alienation could weaken the administration’s grassroots support.
He further contended that Waiya was unfit to serve as a mediator between the government and CSOs due to past conflicts and suggested alternative candidates, such as Muhyi Magaji or Nura Ma’aji, whom he described as more credible and temperamentally suited for the role.
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