IBBUL Student Activist Recounts Ordeal After Arrest Over Remarks About Niger Governor
A students’ rights advocate and postgraduate student at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Isah Mokwa, has spoken publicly about the harsh conditions he faced during his recent detention over comments deemed critical of Niger State Governor Umaru Bago.
Mokwa was arrested on October 23, 2025, at his off-campus residence in Lapai and transported to the Niger State Police Command in Minna.
His arrest followed a series of posts on social media in which he criticised what he described as governance lapses under the current administration. In the posts, he also referred to Governor Bago with the nickname “Governor Amunike,” a remark authorities cited in the petition against him.
The activist had highlighted issues such as delayed assistance to flood victims in his home community of Mokwa, unpaid pensions, concerns surrounding the state’s scholarship programme, and alleged neglect of both the state university and the teaching hospital.
In a statement shared on his social-media pages on Friday — three days after he regained freedom — Mokwa described his time in custody as emotionally draining. He, however, noted that the support he received from citizens across the country strengthened his resolve.
“My arrest, the ongoing legal battle, and the period I spent in detention were tough moments,” he wrote.“But what struck me deeply was the immense compassion, encouragement, and solidarity people extended to me. I learned that standing up for what is right and for the welfare of your community means you are never truly alone.”
He expressed gratitude to his lawyers, civil-society groups, and other Nigerians who demanded due process and stood by him throughout the episode.
Mokwa secured his release after a court approved his bail application, following arguments from his legal representatives challenging the charges brought against him.
A major shift occurred when the state government dropped the cybercrime allegations after questions were raised regarding the credibility of the initial case.
The withdrawal of the charges signalled a significant relief for the student activist and brought a new twist to the controversy surrounding his arrest.
