Abubakar Isah Mokwa, a postgraduate student at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, has been arbitrarily arrested by the Niger State government following his criticism of Governor Umaru Bago. This incident has ignited significant concern over freedom of expression and human rights within the state, drawing condemnation from international bodies and local advocates alike.

The Niger State Police Command confirmed Mokwa's arrest, citing a formal criminal complaint alleging violations of Nigeria’s cybercrime laws. Officers from the Lapai Division conducted the arrest, subsequently transferring Mokwa to the State Police Command Headquarters in Minna for further investigation. Reports indicate that Mokwa was personally interrogated by Governor Bago at the Government House, after which he was charged with cybercrimes, cyberbullying, and potentially thuggery and terrorism. Mokwa, a known critic who frequently refers to the Governor as “Governor Amunike,” had previously expressed fears of police monitoring prior to his detention.

The global human rights body, Amnesty International, has vehemently demanded Mokwa’s immediate and unconditional release. They condemned the arrest as “an attack on freedom of expression” and a clear sign of increasing authoritarianism in Niger State. Amnesty stressed that criticizing a president or governor is not a crime, and warned that such arbitrary arrests reflect a concerning pattern of human rights backsliding across Nigeria, where peaceful protests are often met with violent reprisals and online critics are silenced through the “manipulation of the police and weaponisation of the judiciary.” Amnesty called on Governor Bago to comply with Nigeria's constitution and international law that guarantee the right to freedom of expression.

Mokwa's legal representative, Ibrahim Usman Wali, echoed these concerns, stating that the police are employing “familiar bureaucratic tactics” through administrative delays to prolong his client's detention. As a result, Mokwa's proceedings were adjourned, keeping him in custody until at least Saturday, October 25. Wali reaffirmed the Nigerian Constitution's guarantee of free expression, including the right to criticize government, asserting that governance is a public trust requiring public scrutiny. He urged authorities to respect constitutional freedoms, warning that criminalizing dissent only weakens the social contract between the people and their government. Despite the challenges, Wali reported that Mokwa remains resolute, maintaining faith in the people and the rule of law, and is buoyed by widespread support from students, comrades, and concerned citizens.

Adding another layer to the controversy, Governor Umaru Bago confessed to lying about paying graduate assistants N500,000 to work on his farms. This admission occurred during his interrogation of Mokwa. Bago had previously made these claims during the World Food Day celebration in Lagos State on October 16, stating his intention was to attract investors and promote farm development. A source indicated that the Governor personally ordered Mokwa’s prosecution, directly linking the state's power apparatus to the suppression of a critic.

The combined incidents—Mokwa's arrest, the governor’s actions, and the human rights outcry—highlight a critical erosion of democratic norms in Niger State and potentially wider Nigeria. Human rights defenders and civil society groups continue to demand Mokwa's release, emphasizing the necessity for authorities to respect fundamental freedoms and engage with citizens' concerns rather than silencing dissent. Observers warn that such continued suppression could further erode democratic principles.

In a separate incident reflecting different aspects of public discourse within the Niger State government's orbit, Abdullbergy Usman Ebbo, Special Adviser on Digital Media to Governor Bago, publicly expressed his fondness for his wives' leg and waist chains. This statement was a direct response to Habibu Abubakar Wushishi, Director, Media and Strategy of the Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, who had controversially claimed that leg chains signify prostitution or lesbianism based on which leg they are worn. Ebbo dismissed this interpretation, stating his appreciation for such accessories, particularly for indoor wear, and his desire to upgrade them to gold “if I get money.” This exchange, while distinct from Mokwa's arrest, underscores varying public stances and controversies involving officials connected to the Niger State administration.