CITAD Demands Immediate Release of Detained Corps Member in Katsina
By Public Eye News
September 30, 2025
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has condemned the arrest and continued detention of Zakariyya Kabeer Gwagwarwa, a corps member from Kano State currently serving in Katsina.
Gwagwarwa was reportedly picked up by the police in Katsina on the orders of a federal lawmaker representing Nassarawa Federal Constituency, Kano State. His alleged offense was a Facebook post which read: “Company Pampers must go Sabuwar Nassarawa 2027 Insha Allahu.”
CITAD described the arrest as unlawful, stressing that the post neither incites violence nor threatens public order but rather falls under the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression.
According to reports, the corps member was held incommunicado for several days before being arraigned in court. However, instead of granting him bail, the case was adjourned for two weeks, effectively prolonging his detention.
The organization also raised alarm over claims that Gwagwarwa has been subjected to mistreatment, including physical assault while in custody. It further linked the development to a disturbing pattern of police abuse, recalling the recent death of a young Imam from Dorayi who allegedly died in police custody.
“Police custody should not be a place of torture or extra-judicial punishment for citizens who have not been convicted of any crime,” the group stated.
CITAD, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Y.Z. Ya’u, demanded Gwagwarwa’s immediate and unconditional release. The group urged the judiciary to uphold fairness and resist being used as a tool for political persecution, while reminding the police of their constitutional duty to protect rather than intimidate citizens.
The statement warned that Nigeria’s democracy risks sliding into authoritarianism if citizens are suppressed for expressing their opinions.
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