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By John Ogunsemore
Amnesty International Nigeria has demanded the immediate release of a Kaduna-based trader, Abubakar Idris better known as Comrade Danhabu, who was allegedly arrested and remanded in a correctional facility for criticising the state government on social media.
The global human rights group made the demand in a statement shared on Facebook on Sunday.
On December 11, online news medium Sahara Reporters reported that Comrade Danhabu was arrested over a Facebook post criticising the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani for allegedly failing to enforce President Bola Tinubu’s directive to withdraw police personnel from VIP protection duties.
However, Abdullah Yunus Abdullah, a senior social media aide to Governor Sani refuted the report linking the social media critic’s arrest to the governor.
Abdullah said Comrade Danhabu was arrested by the Nigeria Police Force for falsely claiming that policemen and officers were flouting the presidential order.
In its statement, Amnesty decried that the critic would be spending Christmas and New Year in jail, after a magistrate court ordered his remand in a correctional facility until January 13, 2026.
The statement reads, “What Comrade Danhabu is being put through is part of a wider attack on freedom of expression across many states of Nigeria.
“The ordeal of Comrade Danhabu was because of a critical social media post. Punishing people for dissenting opinions is a direct attack on freedom of expression.
“Comrade Danhabu was arrested at his business premises at Royal Market Kaduna on 8 December 2025.
“After spending a night at CID, on 9 December, he was hastily arraigned before a magistrate court and hurriedly sent to prison until 13 January 2026 when a hearing of the case will hold.”
Amnesty alleged that the Kaduna state government is planning to subject him to an unfair trial based on bogus charges.
“From his arrest to arraignment, clearly Kaduna state government is punishing Comrade Danhabu for exercising his right to freedom of expression.
“Criticising the state and its institutions is not a crime.
“Harsh and unlawful treatment of critics through the bizarre manipulation of the police and the judiciary undermine rule of law.
“It is perfectly within the rights of Comrade Danhabu and all people in Kaduna state to criticise government officials and policies.
“Comrade Danhabu must be released immediately and unconditionally.
“Instead of attacking critics, Kaduna state government should focus and pay more attention to urgently needed social services — and rampant activities of bandits making life a hell in some parts of the state.”
