Governor Orders Arrest Of popular Skitmakers, Others Over Criticism Of Administration
Governor Orders Arrest Of popular Skitmakers, Others Over Criticism Of Administration
The charges reportedly include cyberbullying, defamation, public nuisance, and spreading false information.
Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, has ordered the arrest and prosecution of skitmakers, including Dr. Slim and Gospel Alhaji, over alleged criticisms of his administration on social media.
The charges reportedly include cyberbullying, defamation, public nuisance, and spreading false information.
The skitmakers had accused the governor of failing to complete even a single kilometre of road in three years, while other states continue to commission projects.
They also alleged that government contracts were being awarded to friends from the Niger-Delta region.
Human rights activists have condemned the move, describing it as petty and an attempt to silence critics of the administration’s alleged mismanagement of public funds.
Civil society organizations and human rights groups are urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, citing concerns about the erosion of freedom of speech and expression in Taraba State.
“If true, this is a clear case of human rights abuse and an attempt to stifle free speech,” said Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria. “We urge President Tinubu to take immediate action to protect the rights of Nigerians and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”
The Taraba State government is expected to deny allegations of financial mismanagement, describing them as “unverifiable, misleading, and defamatory.”
According to CSOs, it is likely to point to a number of completed and ongoing infrastructure projects, including road construction and public facilities, as evidence of its achievements, though critics argue that the statistics tell a different story.
Governor Kefas is also expected to call on citizens to exercise patience and partner with his administration as the state addresses challenges inherited from previous governments.
He will likely reiterate his commitment to transparency, development, and accountability, claims that remain contested by observers, CSOs said.
Meanwhile, the arrest of the skitmakers has intensified concerns about the suppression of free speech and the rule of law in Nigeria.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) have called on the government to cease intimidation and harassment of journalists, activists, and civil society organizations.
