Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of 23-year-old Nigerian journalist Farida Isiak, who was reportedly sentenced to four years in prison or a fine of ₦1.75 million for allegedly defaming police officers in a Facebook post.
Isiak, a reporter with Nagarta Radio in Kaduna State, was sentenced by a Sharia Court in Kawo following a dispute involving her parents and police officers, according to the human rights organisation.
Amnesty International condemned the arrest, detention and sentencing, describing the proceedings as a rushed attempt to silence a journalist who sought to expose alleged police misconduct.
How the Dispute Started
According to Amnesty International, the incident began with a disagreement between Isiak’s mother and a neighbour over ₦100 change from a charcoal sale.
Police officers subsequently arrested her mother. Her father was also reportedly detained after he went to the police station to seek his wife’s release.
The organisation alleged that the detention of Isiak’s parents was used to compel the journalist to report to the police station.
Isiak was reportedly taken into custody at about 10pm on Monday, October 20, 2026, by officers operating under the command of the Divisional Police Officer of Mararaban Jos, Usman Adamu.
Upon arriving at the station, she was allegedly accused of defaming police officers in a Facebook post criticising their treatment of her parents.
Amnesty said Isiak deleted the post and apologised in the hope that her parents would be released. However, she was reportedly kept in custody and subsequently taken before the court, where she received the four-year prison sentence or the alternative fine.
Amnesty Condemns Court Proceedings
The human rights organisation criticised the handling of the case, arguing that the proceedings failed to address the circumstances surrounding the initial dispute and the alleged detention of the journalist’s parents.
It described the case as an abuse of power and warned against the use of judicial proceedings to intimidate journalists and restrict freedom of expression.
Amnesty maintained that citizens and journalists have the right to demand accountability from law enforcement agencies without facing arbitrary detention or punishment for expressing criticism.
Calls for Immediate Release
Amnesty International has urged the Kaduna State Police Command and relevant judicial authorities to secure Isiak’s immediate release, drop the charges against her and cancel the ₦1.75 million fine.
The organisation also called for an independent investigation into the conduct of the police officers allegedly involved in the arrest and detention of the journalist and her parents.
It further urged Nigerian authorities to end the use of defamation allegations to harass journalists reporting on alleged abuses by security agencies.
The case has renewed concerns about press freedom, freedom of expression and the treatment of journalists who publicly question the conduct of law enforcement officers.
The allegations surrounding the arrests and court proceedings were reported by Amnesty International. An official response from the police and judicial authorities was not included in the organisation’s account.
