Amnesty International has condemned the arrest, detention, and reported four-year prison sentence imposed on 23-year-old journalist Farida Isiak in Kaduna State, describing the case as an abuse of power and an attempt to silence press freedom.
The international human rights organization called on the Kaduna State Police Command and Nigerian judicial authorities to secure Isiak’s immediate release, drop the charges against her and cancel the N1.75 million fine imposed by the court as an alternative to imprisonment.
Isiak, a reporter with Nagarta Radio in Kaduna, was reportedly arrested around 10 p.m. on Monday, 20 October 2026, by police officers under the command of the Divisional Police Officer of Mararaban Jos, Usman Adamu.
According to Amnesty International, the incident began with a disagreement between Isiak’s mother and a neighbour over N100 change from a charcoal sale.
The organization alleged that police officers initially arrested her mother and subsequently detained her father when he went to secure her release.
The detentions were allegedly used to compel Isiak to report to the police station.
Upon her arrival, the journalist was accused of defaming police officers in a Facebook post in which she criticized their alleged treatment of her parents, Amnesty International said.
It further alleged that Isiak deleted the post and apologized in an attempt to secure her parents’ release, but remained in custody and was subsequently taken to a Sharia Court in Kawo.
The court reportedly sentenced her to four years’ imprisonment, with an option of paying a N1.75 million fine, on a defamation charge.
Amnesty International described the proceedings as a rushed trial that failed to address the alleged police misconduct that triggered the incident.
It argued that detaining the journalist’s parents to compel her to surrender amounted to an abuse of authority and raised serious concerns about respect for the rule of law, freedom of expression and journalists’ ability to hold public institutions accountable.
The organization maintained that citizens have the right to question and demand accountability from law enforcement agencies without facing intimidation or arbitrary punishment.
Amnesty International urged the Nigeria Police Force to launch a full and independent investigation into the conduct of the officers involved in the reported detention of Isiak’s parents and her subsequent arrest.
It also called on Nigerian authorities to end the use of defamation charges and judicial processes to harass journalists and restrict press freedom.
Amnesty International stressed that the case highlights the need to protect journalists from intimidation and ensure that allegations of misconduct by public officials are addressed through lawful and transparent procedures.
