A growing sense of fear has gripped journalists in Kano state following the arrest and detention of Ibrahim Dan’uwa Rano, the presenter of a Hausa-speaking programme, “Imalu”, by Police at the Zonal Police Headquarters in the state.
Rano was allegedly detained following a petition by Abdullahi Rogo, the Director-General of protocol to the Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
An investigation by Daily Nigerian revealed of how the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) uncovered N6.5billions allegedly linked to the Director General of Protocol.
The journalist was subsequently whisked away by the police, while working in his office in Kano; and charged with alleged defamation and operating an online television station without a license by the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC.
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Ibrahim Dan’uwa Rano was released on Sunday following a widespread condemnation by Amnesty International the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), among other civil society organizations.
Amnesty, CITAD: Danuwa Rano’s arrest unlawful
Amnesty International and The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) strongly condemned Danuwa Rano’s arrest, describing it as unlawful.
In a statement, Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s Country Director for Nigeria, called for the immediate and unconditional release of Dan’uwa Rano.
Sanusi said he Rano’s detention at the Zonal Police Headquarters in Kano was based on “bizarre and outrageous allegations of defamation of character.”
He said, “Arresting a person for exercising his constitutionally guaranteed rights as a journalist is unlawful,” Sanusi said. “The arrest of Ibrahim Dan’uwa Rano simply for doing his job is part of an ongoing pattern in which the police are being misused to target independent media voices to instill fear and curb press freedom.”
Similarly, CITAD Executive Director, Y.Z Ya’u, described Rano’s arrest as “another disturbing attempt to stifle press freedom, discourage investigative reporting, and shrink the civic space in a democratic society.”
He said, “The Nigeria Police, as a law enforcement institution, should be a protector of rights, not an instrument of oppression. The arrest of a journalist for performing his constitutional duty of informing the public is a gross abuse of power and a violation of democratic norms. It is unacceptable that in a democracy, journalists continue to face intimidation, arrests, and harassment for expressing opinions or publishing reports critical of those in power.”
However, before Rano’s arrest, at least three journalists were arrested and detained by the police following petitions linked to top officials of the Kano state government between 2024 and October 2025. While some of them were accused of defamation, others were accused of character assassination as well as operating without valid media licenses, a development media rights activists condemned as harassment and intimidation of journalists in the state.
Muktar Dahiru
On 29 August 2024, Muktar Dahiru, a journalist with Pyramid FM Kano, a radio station managed by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), was arrested and remanded in a correctional facility in Kano state for allegedly sharing Facebook content considered offensive by the state government.
According to Premium Times, the journalist was secretly charged before Magistrate Court 24 at Gyadi Gyadi, court road, with criminal conspiracy, defamation of character, and intentional insult.
Abdulaziz Aliyu
In September, 2024, another Kano-based journalist, Abdulaziz Aliyu, was detained for more than two hours by police over a radio programme.
The presenter of a Hausa-language historical programme on Karama Radio, said he was summoned by an officer who identified himself as CSP Sabo.
Aliyu told Reuters that the officer initially claimed his name appeared in a stolen phone investigation.
He said, “On arrival, I was confronted with an entirely different matter: a complaint over my publication. The police deceived me; it was about an article that allegedly offended some individuals.”
According to reports, the programme in question discussed the late Malam Jafaru Ɗan Isiyaku, who ruled the Zazzau emirate from 1937 to 1959.
Buhari Abba and Isma’il Auwal
In March 2025, Buhari Abba, the publisher of an online news platform, Kano Times, and Ismail Auwal, a freelance journalist were invited by the police and later detained over a report critical of the Kano state Commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Waiya.
Buhari Abba and Ismail Auwal were allegedly summoned by the Kano State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) and detained for several hours. They were later released as their arrest sparked outrage.
Danuwa’s arrest undermine press freedom – Jaafar Jaafar
The publisher of Daily Nigeria condemned Danuwa Rano’s arrest, saying it undermined the tenets of press freedom
He wrote, “The arrest and detention of Dan’Uwa under the guise of “defamation” and (wait for the funniest part) operating a Youtube channel without NBC approval undermines the tenets of press freedom.
“It is unfortunate that senior police officers do not know that NBC regulates terrestrial radio and tv stations not news websites or Youtube channels.
“Police should stop acting like non-state actors who are at the beck and call of politicians.”
We’re committed to press freedom – Kano gov’t
All the while, the Abba Kabir Yusuf-led Kano State Government has refuted the claims of cracking down the press. The government insisted that it has created a level playing field for journalism to thrive in the state.
When he hosted the the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, in July 2025, the Director General, Media and Publicity, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to press freedom in the state.
Dawakin Tofa said the administration places high value on the contribution of journalists in promoting transparency, accountability, and responsible governance.
He said, “We sincerely appreciate the role of the Correspondents’ Chapel in bridging the communication gap between the government and the people. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is media-friendly and will continue to welcome constructive criticism that promotes good governance and public accountability.”
