A journalist in Kebbi State, Hassan Mai-Waya Kangiwa, has been detained after releasing a video showing the poor conditions at Kangiwa General Hospital.
The footage, which circulated widely on social media, depicted patients lying on bare metal beds without mattresses, sparking public outrage and renewed scrutiny of the state’s healthcare system.
Activists and critics have condemned the detention, accusing state authorities of attempting to silence reporting rather than address the systemic neglect highlighted by the video.
Dan Bello, a human rights advocate, stated on Tuesday on X in a video that the arrest, reportedly ordered by Governor Nasiru Idris, represented “a new wave of tyranny ” and called for Kangiwa’s immediate release.
Similarly, the Take It Back Movement, a pro-democracy advocacy group that campaigns for accountability and transparency in government, also condemned the arrest.
Posting on X, the group said, “Kebbi Gov. Nasir Idris has thrown journalist Hassan Mai-Waya Kangiwa in detention for exposing the rot in govt hospitals. This is sheer tyranny! We demand Hassan’s immediate release. Silencing truth will not stop the people’s resistance!”
The incident has raised serious questions about freedom of the press and government transparency in the state.
Many observers argue that instead of investigating the deficiencies revealed in the video, authorities have opted to target the messenger, sending a chilling message to journalists who report on public service failures.
Media freedom groups and civil society organisations have urged the immediate release of Kangiwa, emphasising that journalists play a vital role in holding public officials accountable and informing citizens about issues that affect their well-being.
This case highlights the continuing tension between Nigerian journalists and government officials over accountability in public institutions, underlining the importance of safeguarding press freedom to ensure transparency and protect citizens’ right to information.