On September 10, 2025, a Nigerian journalist, Hassan Mai-Waya Kangiwa, was arrested and detained in Kebbi State, northwest Nigeria, after releasing a video that went viral, showing the deplorable conditions at the Kangiwa General Hospital, including an elderly patient lying on a bare iron bedframe without a mattress. The video sparked widespread outrage over the government’s neglect of the health sector.
Rather than addressing the serious issues highlighted, the Kebbi State government, led by Governor Nasir Idris, reportedly ordered the journalist’s arrest. The authorities have yet to provide clear information on the legal basis for his detention.
The arrest has provoked strong criticism from civil society groups, press freedom advocates, and opposition figures. The Take It Back Movement described the detention as an attack on accountability, while activist Omoyele Sowore labelled it an act of “tyranny.”
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) strongly condemns the arrest of journalist Hassan Mai-Waya Kangiwa. The MFWA finds the arrest unacceptable and a blatant violation of press freedom and the public’s right to know. We urge the Kebbi State government to immediately release Hassan Kangiwa unconditionally and to prioritise addressing the concerns raised about the poor state of healthcare delivery in the state.
