The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), Katsina State chapter, has condemned the arrest and continued detention of public affairs analyst, Dr. Bashir Kurfi, urging the Katsina State Government to prioritise the fight against banditry rather than clamp down on critics.

In a statement by its State Coordinator, Abdullahi Kabir, the coalition described Kurfi’s arrest as an act of political persecution and demanded his immediate and unconditional release.

The group said Kurfi’s alleged offence was speaking out about the worsening security situation and the government’s handling of banditry in Katsina State.

According to the CNG, the reported use of the police and the judiciary to prosecute a citizen for expressing his views amounts to an assault on democracy, freedom of expression and the constitutional rights guaranteed to Nigerians.

The coalition argued that while communities across Katsina State continue to suffer deadly bandit attacks, mass displacement and widespread fear, the authorities appear to be focusing their efforts on silencing those who draw attention to the government’s shortcomings in addressing insecurity.

“The government should be confronting the criminals terrorising our communities, not persecuting citizens who speak out on behalf of victims,” the statement said.

The CNG further alleged that attempts were being made to keep Kurfi in custody through fabricated charges and a manipulated judicial process, describing the development as political repression with no place in a constitutional democracy.

It also said the Incident had renewed concerns over the proposed creation of state police, warning that security institutions not adequately protected from political interference could easily be used against political opponents, journalists, activists and other dissenting voices.

The group maintained that criticism of government policies and demands for accountability should never be criminalised, insisting that speaking on matters of public interest is a constitutional right.

The coalition demanded Kurfi’s immediate release, the withdrawal of what it described as politically motivated actions against him, and an end to the intimidation of journalists, analysts, activists and citizens who express their views on governance and security.

It also urged the Nigeria Police Force to resist being used for political witch-hunts and instead concentrate on combating banditry and other violent crimes across Katsina and other states affected by insecurity. (Daily Trust)

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