CITAD Condemns Politicians’ Misuse of Police to Intimidate Bloggers, Demands Immediate Release of Manjala
By Mustapha Salisu
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has strongly condemned the arrest of Kwara-based blogger, Ajala Adeshina Shuaib, popularly known as Manjala, describing it as a clear case of political intimidation and a violation of the right to freedom of expression.
In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by its Executive Director, Engr. Y.Z. Ya’u, CITAD decried what it called the “weaponization of the Nigeria Police Force by politicians” to silence journalists, activists, and online commentators critical of those in power.
According to reports, Shuaib was arrested following a petition by Tunji Buhari Sulyman, a legislative aide to Senator Saliu Mustapha, over alleged defamation. CITAD described the arrest as “a blatant misuse of law enforcement powers” and a “direct assault on constitutionally protected freedom of expression.”
“Section 39 of the Constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to freedom of expression. The continuous harassment, arrest, and detention of bloggers, journalists, and activists for merely expressing their views is a serious breach of our democratic values and an affront to the principles of open governance,” the statement read.
The organization criticized the growing trend of politicians deploying security operatives to pursue personal vendettas rather than focusing on the country’s worsening security challenges.
“The Nigeria Police Force is not a private militia for politicians. Its constitutional mandate is to protect lives and property, not to intimidate citizens or pursue political vendettas,” CITAD stated.
CITAD further warned that such arbitrary arrests discourage civic participation, silence independent journalism, and erode public trust in democratic institutions. The organization expressed concern that this rising pattern of repression poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s democratic development and civic space.
In its demands, CITAD called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately:
- End the misuse of its powers for personal or political interests.
- Release Ajala Shuaib (Manjala) unconditionally.
- Focus on tackling insecurity and protecting citizens.
- Advise Mr. Tunji Buhari Sulyman to seek redress in court if he feels defamed rather than resorting to self-help through police intimidation.
CITAD also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action to curb the abuse of state security agencies for political gains. It further called on the Inspector General of Police to issue clear directives prohibiting arrests over defamation or political disagreements.
“Democracy cannot flourish where dissent is treated as a crime,” the statement added.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to defending journalists, activists, and digital creators against intimidation, vowing to continue advocating for a freer and more democratic Nigeria where citizens can freely express their opinions online and offline.
