Farida, who works as a journalist in Kaduna, was arrested last week after she posted on Facebook that the police in Kaduna were not doing enough to protect citizens from bandits. She was charged with defamation and was quickly sentenced, but the NUJ intervened and she was later released on bail.
The NUJ Kaduna Chapter said the arrest is an attack on press freedom and freedom of speech guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution. The union said journalists should not be arrested for doing their job or expressing their opinion on social media.
The Kaduna Police Command has however clarified the case, saying Farida was not arrested because she is a journalist, but because her post was false and capable of causing public unrest. The police said she accused them of collecting bribes from bandits without any evidence.
The NUJ has now called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the matter and ensure that Farida gets justice. The retrial of the case has been fixed for November 3, 2026.
Many civil society organizations have also joined the call for press freedom, saying Nigeria cannot develop if journalists are afraid to speak truth to power.
This case is trending online as many Nigerians are using the hashtag #FreeFarida to show support.
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