The Nigerian PEN has condemned the detention of a student of the National Open University, Abdulmalik Sa’idu, allegedly on the orders of the Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema.
PEN, an umbrella body of writers and journalists, noted in a statement on Monday that Sai’du’s detention on an allegation that he published on his Facebook page accusations bordering on the exposure of sharp practices in handling of fertiliser meant for farmers, contravened principles of democracy and fundamental human rights.
The statement signed by PEN’s Secretary General, Mr. Ropo Ewenla, indicated that there had been no response from the state government to the allegation even as the state police command insisted that it had orders to keep the suspect incommunicado and in detention.
Ewenla added, “If this instance proves nothing, it confirms the Amnesty International’s recently-released damning report accusing the Nigerian police of arbitrarily arresting, torturing and killing thousands of Nigerians without following legal process.
“We of the Nigerian PEN centre find this act reprehensible and against the very spirit of freedom of expression that democracy, the vehicle that brought Shema’s administration to office, champions. We demand an immediate intervention by the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the state and federation. This is an abuse of the rule of law and an affront on the Nigerian constitution. We cannot but see this in the light of a looming intolerance and clampdown by the Nigerian elite against social media and Internet communication.
“We therefore call on all people of conscience to voice their objection to this trend of official intolerance in a country where freedom of information is backed by an act of law.”