15/5/2024 – The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) condemns in strong terms the arrest and detention of Mr. Jamil Mabai, a freelance journalist with Daily Trust newspaper by men of the Hisbah Police in Katsina state on Tuesday, the 14th of May, 2024.
According to Mr Mabai in a phone conversation with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), he had gone to the Hisbah office for an interview with the Public Relations Officer of the state owned security outfit following an alleged shooting of a resident of the state by men of the Hisbah police, but got arrested and detained upon arrival at the Hisbah police office.
“Despite explaining that I was a journalist there for an interview with the public relations officer, they confiscated my phone before holding me in a cell.
I was later brought before the commandant in his office. He threatened me and said I was fighting the religion of Islam because anyone who fights Hisbah fights the religion and there is nothing I or anybody can do.” he said.
We find it disturbing that a journalist is subjected to such abuse of his fundamental rights by Hisbah, a state owned security outfit. Arbitrary arrest and detention of journalists in the course of their work not only violates the basic principles of democracy, it also represents a disregard for the rule of law and is a violation of the people’s right to access information.
We urge the Katsina state government to immediately conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and ensure that everyone involved in the arrest and detention of Mr. Jamil Mabai is brought to book.
We equally urge the Katsina state government to ensure that Journalists in the state are provided a free and safe environment to discharge their duties without fear of reprisal.
The critical and constitutional role of journalists is central to the survival of democracy, and protection of human rights. As such, the safety of journalists must be held sacrosanct. Governments at all levels are hereby called upon to respect and protect the freedom of the press. .
Signed:
CWPPF Secretariat
For:
CWPPF members
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Premium Times
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The Cable
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Daily Trust Newspaper
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International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR)
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Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ)
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6.Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID)
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African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)
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Civic Media Lab
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9. Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC)
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International Press Centre (IPC)
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International Press Institute (IPI)
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Media Rights Agenda (MRA)
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Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)
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Paradigm Initiative
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15. Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)
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HEDA Resources Centre.
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WikkiTimes
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Global Rights
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Dataphyte Foundation