Findings show that the aide to the Jigawa State governor on Inter-governmental Affairs, Aliyu Hussaini Suleiman, is behind the arrest.
Police authorities have arrested a 23-year-old man, Abubakar Gossima, over a Facebook post.
Findings show that the aide to the Jigawa State governor on Inter-governmental Affairs, Aliyu Hussaini Suleiman, is behind the arrest.
The people’s insight learnt that the controversial post did not mention anyone’s name, creating uncertainty as to why the governor’s aide took it personally and raising concerns about the growing suppression of freedom of expression in Jigawa State.
An interpretation of the post, originally written in Hausa, reads: “Those who are canvassing for the support of the people to vie for the House of Representatives seat, should know that we’ll never use our hands to vote for some whose background we do not ascertain. We’re not that stupid as a people.”
Sources familiar with the matter told the people’s insight that Gossima was arrested around 6 p.m. on Thursday by plainclothes police officers from Abuja.
“The boy was travelling when police officials who were not in uniform accosted the vehicle in which he was and picked him up. His parents tried to reach him and became worried when they could not reach him,” a source said.
The people’s insight learnt that the police initially denied arresting him, but persistent pressure from his family eventually forced authorities to admit that he was in police custody.
“After several efforts, it was discovered that he was arrested by police officers who came from Abuja under the guise that he was alleged to have committed cyberbullying,” the source said.
It was gathered that on Friday, he was transferred to Asokoro Police Station in Abuja.
“They transferred him to Asokoro in Abuja, denying his parents and friends from reaching him. The accuser, Abubakar Aliyu, demanded that he apologise to him before his release could be secured,” the source said.
The people insight further learnt that the police authorities in Abuja have denied Gossima access to his relations.
“His family members have tried reaching him, including his lawyer, but the police authorities refused to allow them access to him. It is unclear why they are keeping him away from access to his own family and legal representation,” a source told the people’s insight.
“The issue is that even the Facebook post, which is being said to be the cause of all these issues, did not mention anyone’s name, so it’s unclear how the aide to the governor got the police to arrest Gossima under cyberbullying,” a family source told people’s insight.
The people’s insight understands that there have been a series of indiscriminate arrests of youths in Jigawa State for airing their views.
“Recently, the Jigawa Students President was arrested by the Department of State Services. When he was released on bail, the Civil Defence picked him up. As he was leaving the Civil Defence, the police arrested him. These are people known; imagine many others who are unknown and languishing in prison for airing their views in Jigawa State,” a source said.
The people’s insight learnt that the family of Gossima have vowed that their son would not apologise over the Facebook post, which did not attack anyone.
As of the time of this report, Gossima had yet to be charged in court, with the police holding him incommunicado.
The police, in a statement seen by the people’s insight, reacted to the arrest but failed to address the specific cyberbullying allegation under which Gossima was reportedly arrested.
The statement, signed by Shiisu Lawan Adam, the Police Public Relations Officer for Jigawa State, read: “The attention of the Jigawa State Police Command has been drawn to a misleading report circulating on various media platforms, claiming that one Abubakar Gossima was arrested by operatives of the Jigawa State Police Command for political reasons.
“For the purpose of clarity and record correction, the Command wishes to state unequivocally that the arrest of Abubakar Gossima was carried out by the operatives of Special Investigation Unit of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The special unit has nationwide jurisdiction to investigate complex, sensitive and high-profile crimes. The arrest was carried out in accordance with due process and police constitutional responsibility.
“The Jigawa State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police CP Dahiru Muhammad, psc, fdc, is committed to maintaining professionalism, transparency and synergy with all units of the Nigeria Police Force and Sister Security Agencies to ensure safety and security of the state.”
“Members of the public and media organisations are hereby urged to always verify facts with appropriate authorities before disseminating information, so as to avoid misleading the public and misrepresentation of facts,” the police statement added.
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