The detention of a journalist in Kebbi State has sparked outrage after he published a video exposing deplorable conditions at Kangiwa General Hospital.
The journalist, Hassan Mai-Waya Kangiwa, was reportedly arrested on the orders of Governor Nasiru Idris following the release of footage showing patients lying on bare metal frames without mattresses. The video, which quickly went viral on social media, provoked widespread criticism of the state’s healthcare system.
Human rights advocates and pro-democracy groups have condemned the arrest, describing it as an attempt to silence truth-telling rather than address systemic failures. Dan Bello, a human rights campaigner, described the action as “a new wave of tyranny” and demanded Kangiwa’s immediate release.
Similarly, the Take It Back Movement, an advocacy group for accountability and transparency, lambasted the governor’s actions. In a post on X, the group declared:
“Governor Nasiru Idris has detained journalist Hassan Mai-Waya Kangiwa for exposing the rot in public hospitals. This is sheer tyranny! We demand his immediate release. Silencing truth will not suppress the people’s resistance.”
Observers argue that instead of investigating the grave deficiencies highlighted in the video, authorities have targeted the journalist, sending a chilling warning to others who might expose government failures.
Civil society groups and media watchdogs have called for Kangiwa’s release, insisting that journalists play an indispensable role in holding leaders accountable and keeping citizens informed.
The case underscores the persistent tension between journalists and government officials in Nigeria, highlighting the urgent need to safeguard press freedom as a cornerstone of transparency, accountability, and citizens’ right to information.
0 Comments