Journalist detained for exposing hospital neglect (Video)
Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris has sparked nationwide outrage after ordering the arrest of journalist Hassan Mai-Waya Kangiwa. The detention followed the release of a viral video by Kangiwa that exposed the deplorable conditions at Kangiwa General Hospital.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, showed an elderly patient lying on a bare metal bed frame without a mattress, a shocking image that drew public condemnation and renewed scrutiny of Kebbi’s healthcare system.
Instead of addressing the systemic neglect highlighted in the footage, the state government responded by detaining Kangiwa late Sunday night. Eyewitnesses reported that security operatives stormed his home in Kangiwa town, seizing his phones and work equipment while his family looked on.
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The move has been widely condemned as a blatant attack on press freedom by civil society groups, opposition figures, and media watchdogs. Daure David, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Youth Leader Aspirant, described the arrest as “an assault on accountability and transparency,” and demanded Kangiwa’s immediate release.
The PDP Northern Minorities Consultative Forum also condemned the detention as “sheer tyranny.” Their spokesperson, Jessy Mallums, accused Governor Idris of suppressing free speech, stating, “A fake comrade who detains journalists for exposing government failures should not be tolerated.”
The hashtag #FreeHassanKangiwaNow has trended across social media platforms, with Nigerians sharing the video and calling for justice. As of now, the Kebbi State Government and police have not released an official statement or disclosed the charges against Kangiwa.
Rights advocates like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have warned that this arrest sends a chilling message to journalists across the country and undermines citizens’ right to information. The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on international human rights bodies to closely monitor the situation and hold the government accountable for violating press freedom.
The incident raises serious concerns about governance, transparency, and the treatment of whistleblowers in Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
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