The Kano State Government has rejected allegations by Amnesty International that it is escalating repression and targeting individuals for criticising Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Amnesty International, in a publication titled “Kano: Escalating Repression Endangers Freedom of Expression,” had alleged a pattern of arrests, detention and harassment of critics of the governor by security agencies at the instance of the state government.
However, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the government described the allegations as “misleading, unfounded, and a gross misrepresentation of facts.”
The statement read in part, “The Kano State Government hereby categorically rejects these allegations as misleading, unfounded, and a gross misrepresentation of facts.”
The government maintained that the administration of Yusuf “is firmly committed to the protection of fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
It added, “At no time has the government directed any security agency to target, harass, or intimidate any individual merely for expressing dissenting opinions.”
While acknowledging that freedom of expression is constitutionally guaranteed, the government stressed that the right is not absolute.
“While freedom of expression is a constitutionally guaranteed right, it is, however, not absolute and is as well not infinite. Issues of libel, slander, defamation, mischief, hate speech, incitement, false accusations, and deliberate misinformation fall outside the protective boundaries of free speech,” the statement said.
The government noted that security agencies, including the Department of State Services, operate within their statutory mandates and act based on petitions and credible allegations.
“Invitations or arrests, where they occur, are based on petitions, complaints, or credible allegations of wrongdoing, including offences such as cyberbullying, defamation, incitement or character assassination. The Kano State Government does not control or micromanage the administrative or operational decisions of federal security agencies,” it stated.
The commissioner, however, added that the state supports efforts by security agencies to tackle cybercrime and related offences such as bullying, slander and character assassination.
The statement lamented what it described as the misuse of social media platforms by some individuals to spread misinformation and engage in personal attacks.
“The government has a responsibility to ensure that digital spaces do not become breeding grounds for disorders or platforms for damaging reputations without recourse to protection of human dignity and integrity,” it added.
Waiya further said the Yusuf administration had maintained an open and media-friendly environment, insisting that citizens were free to express their views without harassment.
“Constructive criticism remains vital to democratic governance and development. However, there is a clear legal and moral boundary between criticism and defamation, between satire and deliberate falsehood, and between dissent and incitement,” the statement read.
The government urged organisations and commentators to verify facts before making conclusions capable of undermining public institutions.
“Kano State Government remains committed to democratic values, rule of law, and the peaceful coexistence of all citizens. This administration will continue to uphold justice, fairness, and respect for constitutional rights while ensuring that those rights are exercised responsibly and within the ambit of the law,” the statement added.
