Atiku blasts Gov Bago over student’s arrest

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the arrest and continued detention of Abubakar Isah Mokwa, a postgraduate student of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), describing it as a “dangerous sign of growing intolerance and repression” in Niger State.

Atiku, in a statement on Saturday, said it was outrageous and unacceptable that Mokwa had been held for over a week merely for expressing his opinion about Governor Umaru Bago.

“This is tyranny in disguise and a betrayal of justice,” Atiku said. “Defamation is a civil matter, not a criminal offence. To weaponise it for political witch-hunts is an assault on democracy itself.”

The PDP chieftain accused the ruling party of using the Cybercrimes Act as a convenient tool to intimidate citizens, journalists, and critics under the guise of fighting cyberstalking.

He demanded Mokwa’s immediate and unconditional release, warning that “history will not be kind to those who criminalise truth.”

Atiku also called for the repeal or comprehensive amendment of the Cybercrimes Act, insisting that the law has become a weapon for gagging free speech and silencing dissenting voices.

“Our nation already has enough laws to deal with defamation,” he said. “What we need now is tolerance, not tyranny.”