Nigerians on X platform (formerly Twitter) have lambasted the Islamic police in Northern Nigeria, Hisbah for arresting a Trust TV journalist, Jamil Mabai, in Katsina State.
An X user, @Edrees4P, who revealed Mabai’s arrest on Wednesday said that the journalist was arrested over his post on Facebook where he criticised the unjust detention and human rights violations against youths in the state.
“Hisbah in Katsina arrested a journalist @jaymb000 over his post on Facebook criticising their unjust detainment and human rights violations against youth in the state.
“Jamilu is a reporter for Trust Tv in Katsina. Remember, journalism is not a crime.
“Arresting a journalist over an allegation that he is attacking religion is hypocritical and an insult to our noble profession.
“Which religion are you referring to? Journalists are neither criminals nor terrorists, and this harassment must end,” the X user wrote.
Reacting to the revelation of the journalist’s arrest, an X user, @ELMustaphaJ said that the state Governor, Dikko Radda, has a lot of briefing to do for Hisbah, stressing that Hisbah had recently been in the news for wrong reasons.
“H.E @dikko_radda has a lot of briefing to do for the Hisbah group. They have been in the news for the wrong reasons lately. I hope they do not end up harming more and more people to an unbearable level,” @ELMustaphaJ wrote.
Also, @firstdorta said that “Journalists are now the most endangered in Nigeria of today. Are we in a dictatorship? This needs to stop!”
Another X user, @GreatDeximal said, “How can Hizbah be arresting journo? Same Katsina? They can’t arrest bandits o,” while @secmxx wrote, “Why will you arrest this guy, no one has covered the insecurity situation in Katsina like he does.”
However, the Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, did not answer calls made to his mobile phone number for reaction on the matter.