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Kaduna Police Torture: Journalist Idibia Targeted, Key Witness Reveals
By our correspondent
Mr Idibia Gabriel, a journalist working for Daily Times Newspapers in Kaduna state, was recently subjected to arrest and torture by Nigerian police operatives.
The incident occurred on June 11th, 2024, when Mr Idibia was capturing photographs of a large herd of cattle being escorted by uniformed police officers along Kachia major road at U/Boro, in Sabon Tasha area of the state.
Although he was later released, the ordeal left him with physical and psychological trauma.
In a recent telephone interview with Comrade Kevin Sunday Umaru, a key witness and victim of the police arrest, he confirmed that Journalist Idibia was subjected to severe physical and mental abuse for no apparent reason. Mr. Umaru, who was also arrested by the police on the same day but from a different location, corroborated the claim that the police intended to harm Mr. Idibia, as he witnessed an officer delivering a heavy blow to the journalist.
During the interview, Mr. Idibia expressed his dismay, stating that he had done nothing to provoke the police officers. He emphasized that he had merely greeted them and introduced himself as a journalist before taking pictures of the cattle. He firmly asserted his innocence and condemned the unwarranted torture he endured.
Responding to the police’s denial of torturing Mr. Idibia, Mr. Umaru vehemently refuted their claims, stating that several witnesses, including himself, observed the officer delivering the blow. He identified specific officers involved in the incident and expressed his disbelief at their actions.
When asked about his response to the clarification sought by his union body and leaders, Mr. Umaru responded confidently, stating that he was present during the incident and was not subjected to physical harm. He expressed his willingness to pursue the matter further, as he believed that both he and Mr. Idibia were wrongfully arrested.
Following his arrest, Mr. Idibia was taken to the police CID at Kaduna state Branch, where he collapsed due to the torture and the impact on his left cheek. He has since been seeking medical treatment for his injuries, with support from organizations such as the Coalition of Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) and the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID).
Despite the witness testimony and condemnation from various journalist protection bodies, the Nigerian police have yet to issue an apology or acknowledge the unlawful assault on Mr. Idibia. The journalist continues to battle with his injuries and seek justice for the incident.
The Anambra Government has imposed a one-month sanction on Blossom Fount School, Awka, for allegedly selling the position of head prefect during a student election.
This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.
According to the commissioner, the school reportedly demanded N5,000 from each pupil aspiring to become head prefect in the primary section.
Chuma-Udeh condemned the act, describing it as an attempt to “sell the psyche of the children to the highest bidder from the cradle.”
According to her, such practices are unacceptable under the administration of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo.
She said that an investigation was ongoing to examine the school’s broader management practices, with the possibility of further actions based on the findings.
Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the arrest and continued detention of former House of Representatives member, Muhammad Kazaure, describing it as a violation of due process.
In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Atiku said Kazaure’s detention reflects a brazen disregard for the rule of law, accusing the anti-graft agency of operating beyond the limits of the Nigerian Constitution.
Atiku alleged that the EFCC is increasingly becoming a tool for political repression, citing what he called a troubling pattern of lawlessness under the current administration.
He said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has once again plunged headlong into its well-worn pattern of lawlessness, arresting and detaining citizens with brazen disregard for due process and without offering any justification for its actions.”
Atiku also referenced the recent arrest of social commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, whose release followed intense public pressure. He suggested that Kazaure’s case fits into a broader trend of state institutions being used to silence dissenting voices.
“We witnessed this same abuse in the unlawful arrest and detention of Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, whose release was only secured after massive public outrage and pressure.
“Now, the EFCC has targeted Hon. Muhammad Kazaure, a former member of the House of Representatives and an unapologetic critic of the gross misgovernance and failings of the Tinubu administration.
“Abducted in Kano and whisked away to Abuja, Kazaure is presently being held incommunicado, with no formal charge or explanation offered to his family, legal team, or the Nigerian people.
“Let it be stated without equivocation: even if there were legitimate grounds for arresting any citizen, such action must adhere strictly to the rule of law. The EFCC is duty-bound to publicly disclose the reasons for any arrest and must not detain individuals indefinitely under the guise of investigation.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is unequivocal on this matter—every detainee must be promptly charged to court or released. By once again trampling on the fundamental rights of a Nigerian citizen, the EFCC is entrenching itself deeper into the mire of impunity and constitutional delinquency.
“It’s deafening silence regarding the arrest of Hon. Kazaure, a man who represented the good people of Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi federal constituency, lays bare the agency’s contempt for transparency and justice.
Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has ignited social media buzz after posting a 15-second TikTok video set to the trending song Omo Ologo — a track closely linked with President Bola Tinubu.
The video, shared on her TikTok page on May 8, shows the embattled lawmaker smiling and playfully interacting with the camera. Captioned, “Just for fun, song choked,” the post has drawn mixed reactions online, with some interpreting it as a light-hearted moment, while others suspect a deeper political undertone.
The video comes just days after the song Omo Ologo was performed live by Kano-based singer Dauda Kahutu Rarara during a dinner in Katsina State held in honour of President Tinubu, who was on a two-day working visit to assess security in the region.
The song, which blends Hausa and Yoruba, praises Tinubu as a victorious leader who has outlasted his critics.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s TikTok post follows a series of dramatic exchanges between her and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The senator was suspended from the upper legislative chamber in March after accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment — an allegation that triggered heated debate in the National Assembly.
In what appeared to be a bold response to her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan recently posted a sarcastic apology video to Akpabio on Facebook, in which she claimed she was sorry “for the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect.”
The post was accompanied by a short video, further fueling controversy.
Akpabio’s legal team has since approached a federal high court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling the senator to delete the post from her social media pages.
In a counter-affidavit filed by her lawyer, Jubril Okutepa (SAN), Akpoti-Uduaghan’s camp described the motion as an attempt to silence and intimidate her.
The court is expected to rule on the matter on May 12.