Police assault: Katsina journalist didn’t get fair hearing, says colleague

A Katsina-based journalist has said that the embattled female journalist in Katsina state, Ruqayya Aliyu Jibia, who was alleged to have been assaulted by the police in the state was not given fair hearing. Rukayya has said she went into hiding because her life was under threat. Rakayya’s colleague, who spoke on condition of anonymity, […]

A Katsina-based journalist has said that the embattled female journalist in Katsina state, Ruqayya Aliyu Jibia, who was alleged to have been assaulted by the police in the state was not given fair hearing.

Rukayya has said she went into hiding because her life was under threat.

Rakayya’s colleague, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that he witnessed the incident as it unfolded.

He said that Rukayya’s vehement protest against how the state police command paraded four teenagers landed her in trouble.

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He added that there has been a strained relationship between Rukayya  and the PPRO in Katsina State, Isa Gambo.

He said Gambo never gave journalists a chance to ask questions, while parading the suspects.

The journalist said, “Recently the command paraded some four teenage Awara sellers, whom the police accused of prostitution, which did not go down well with Rukayya. She openly advocated against the action, which she said would lead to stigmatization. She said the teenagers may be ridiculed in the society.

“She went to the teenagers to interview them, but she was reported to Isa Gambo. Thereafter, the PPRO reported her to the Emir of Katsina, not to the police. He told the emir that there was a journalist who was putting them in a bad light. She was never given a fair hearing in the palace.”