Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A Kaduna‑based trader, widely known on social media as Comrade DanHabu, has been released from custody following intense public criticism and rights advocacy over his arrest for a Facebook post criticising Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State. The case drew national attention as human rights groups and civil society organisations denounced his detention as a violation of fundamental freedoms.
The trader was identified as Abubakar Idris, a market trader and vocal social media user in Kaduna, whose commentary on social media drew the ire of authorities after he questioned Governor Sani’s handling of a directive from the federal government regarding the withdrawal of police escorts from VIPs. Idris’s post alleged that senior state officials, including the chief of staff and commissioners, continued to use police escorts in defiance of the federal directive, and he called for accountability.
According to reports and social media confirmations from activist and community pages, Idris was arrested on 9 December 2025 and remanded in prison after being arraigned before a magistrate’s court. The initial court order set his custody until 13 January 2026, pending further hearings on charges related to his post.
The arrest sparked swift backlash from human rights organisations, civil liberties advocates and members of the public who decried the detention as an assault on free speech. Amnesty International Nigeria issued a statement calling for Idris’s immediate and unconditional release, arguing that his detention undermined constitutional protections for freedom of expression and civic engagement. Local group the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) also condemned the arrest, warning against the misuse of police powers to silence dissent.
For many observers, the case became emblematic of broader concerns about the shrinking space for public criticism in parts of Nigeria, where social media posts and public commentary on governance increasingly result in confrontations with security agencies. Legal experts weighed in on the situation, underscoring that criticism of public officials — particularly on matters of public interest like compliance with federal directives — is protected under Nigeria’s constitution and should not attract punitive action in democratic discourse.
Following the outcry and sustained advocacy, updates shared on social media this week confirmed that Comrade DanHabu (Abubakar Idris) has been released from custody. Supporters and community members celebrated the news and reiterated calls for reforms to ensure that citizens can freely express their views without fear of arbitrary arrest or intimidation.
The resolution of this case has been welcomed by press freedoms advocates, who argue it underscores the importance of public pressure and rights‑based mobilisation in defending civil liberties. Still, the initial arrest prompted debate across Kaduna and beyond about the balance between defamation and legitimate criticism, the role of law enforcement in enforcing public order versus suppressing dissent, and the responsibilities of public officials to respect constitutional freedoms.
Governor Uba Sani’s administration has not issued a detailed public statement on Idris’s arrest and release. While some government supporters argued at the time that the arrest was justified on grounds of preventing misinformation, rights groups countered that mere criticism of public office holders cannot be criminalised without eroding democratic norms.
In the wake of the episode, legal practitioners and civil liberties organisations are urging a clear reaffirmation of freedom of expression protections, including training for law enforcement on constitutional rights and guidelines for engaging with social media content. They also emphasise the need for judicial restraint when reviewing cases involving political speech, warning that punitive responses to criticism can chill public debate and erode trust in democratic institutions.
For now, Idris’s release has been widely interpreted as a victory for advocates of free speech and participatory governance, highlighting the impact of collective advocacy in challenging contentious arrests tied to expressive freedoms. Continued attention to cases like this, analysts say, is crucial for shaping Nigeria’s evolving democratic landscape and ensuring that citizens can engage freely in discourse about governance and public policy without fear of retribution.
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