The Niger State Police Command has detained a Minna-based activist and social commentator, Muhammad Yahaya-Usman, over an alleged social media post calling for an investigation into the activities of a non-governmental organisation, the International Centre for Sexual Reproductive Rights, INCRESE.
Mr Usman, popularly called Sai Baba, had alleged that the organisation is pro-LGBT and called on the Niger State government to investigate their activities and source of funding.
In a Facebook post after his release, Mr Usman said instead of responding to the issues he raised, the organisation filed a defamation complaint against him at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID.
Mr Usman said: “An NGO named INCRESE has operated in Minna, Niger State.
“The NGO activities are stated on their website, which include, among others, advocating for “safer sex” linkages to legal services and advocacy for “sexual minorities” [please check for the definition] and also for women living under Sharia Law [whatever that means]. My newspaper, Nigerwatch Newspaper, has covered their event. [That is another story.]
“After looking at their website, I found their mission, logo, and other information.
“I called on Niger State/Nigeria Government to question their mission statement, especially [Sexual Minorities and Sharia Law] logo [check for it] Funding [where they get money from?] and activities.
“My rhetorical questions didn’t sit well with them, so they petitioned the police that I have defamed them, yet they have refused to explain to the public the above questions posed.
“The police sent a team of detectives to invite me, after some minutes of questioning, I was detained between 6:30 -10:30 10:30 p.m.
“I was later granted bail to return this morning at 8 a.m.
“I am billed to go back to the force CID from 8 a.m. today [Tuesday].”
When contacted, the state police public relations officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said he wasn’t aware of the arrest.
He, however, promised to get details of the incident and revert to our correspondent.
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