Amnesty International condemns the arbitrary detention of public affairs analyst Dr. Bashir Kurfi over his recent comments regarding the handling of banditry by Katsina state government.
Yesterday Tuesday 7 July 2026, Dr. Bashir Kurfi honoured an invitation by Katsina state police command, to answer questions on a separate matter, but he was abruptly informed that he will be detained because of a petition against him relating to an interview on banditry on Trust Television.
Right now, a plot is ongoing to keep Dr. Bashir Kurfi in detention indefinitely through abuse of power. The plan to trap him with fabricated charges through a sham trial is an attack on freedom of expression.
Clearly, government is keenly working to punish him for asking questions regarding Katsina state government’s handling of banditry. Instead of investigating the allegations Dr. Kurfi raised, in the interest of the public, the state government had resorted to outright repression.
This brazen attempt to silence Dr. Bashir Kurfi is aimed at intimidating people to prevent public scrutiny of government’s woeful handling of the rampant banditry that had claimed hundreds of lives and forced thousands of people to desert their villages across Katsina state.
No one should be punished for criticizing government or probing official dealings. Dr. Bashir Kurfi did not commit any crime and his arrest shows clear abuse of power. It is perfectly within his right to raise questions or criticize any government policy.
Not only has the government failed to take the steps needed to adequately end frequent attacks by bandits in Katsina state, police regularly punish those who dare to ask for more protection.
Since 2020, Amnesty International has been documenting how farmers, rights groups, and activists are subjected to intimidation, arrest and torture for speaking out against the attacks by bandits or asking government to help protect the people.
Joy
Hmmm