Amnesty International Condemns Harassment of Journalists in Kano

By Our Correspondent

Amnesty International has strongly condemned the alleged harassment and intimidation of two journalists, Buhari Abba Rano, an online journal publisher, and Isma’il Auwal, a freelance journalist, by the Kano State Police Command. The action was reportedly carried out on the orders of the state’s Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya.

According to reports, Buhari Abba, an online editor with Kano Times, was invited by the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) of the Kano State Police Command, where he was detained for several hours. His detention is said to be linked to an opinion article published by Kano Times, which expressed a critical view on a matter of public interest.

Amnesty International has described the intimidation of the two journalists as a blatant attack on press freedom. “Expressing a critical opinion on a public matter is never a crime. The plan to charge both journalists with defamation is unacceptable and demonstrates a clear disregard for freedom of expression and a worrying intolerance of dissenting voices,” the human rights organization stated.

The rights group has urged both the Kano State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to respect and uphold the constitutional rights of journalists. “Attempts to use law enforcement to suppress press freedom must stop. The safety and fundamental rights of Buhari Abba Rano and Isma’il Auwal must be guaranteed,” Amnesty International added.

This incident has sparked concerns among media professionals and human rights advocates, who view it as a dangerous precedent for press freedom in Nigeria. Journalists across the country continue to face threats and legal persecution for carrying out their duties, raising urgent calls for stronger protections against the misuse of state power to silence dissent.

As of now, the Kano State Government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the allegations. However, press freedom organizations and civil society groups are closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the need for an independent and transparent inquiry into the matter.