By George Mgbeleke

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has issued a blistering condemnation of the Nigerian Army over what it describes as the “brazen kidnapping” of social media activist Justice Mark Chidiebere, popularly known as “Justice Crack,” declaring the action a direct assault on Nigeria’s Constitution and a chilling sign of creeping militarism.

In a sharply worded statement, HURIWA dismissed the Army’s explanation as “afterthought justification,” insisting that no amount of official framing can disguise what it called “a crude, unlawful abduction carried out in broad daylight.”

“Let Nigerians be clear: this was not an arrest. This was a kidnapping by men in uniform,” the group declared.

“WHO GAVE THE ARMY THE POWER TO ABDUCT CIVILIANS?”

HURIWA fired a barrage of questions at the military hierarchy:
Why was a civilian seized by soldiers instead of being invited by lawful civil authorities?
What specific law authorises the Army to pick up citizens on “nebulous grounds”?
When did expressing opinions on troop welfare become a military offence?
The group warned that the Army’s conduct has collapsed the line between lawful enforcement and criminal abduction, creating a dangerous environment where citizens no longer feel safe—even from those sworn to protect them.

FREE SPEECH UNDER SIEGE
At the heart of the controversy is Chidiebere’s alleged “offence”: speaking about the welfare of Nigerian troops fighting insurgency.
HURIWA described this as a legitimate civic duty—not a crime, accusing the Army of attempting to weaponise national security to silence dissent.
“If the information is false, respond with facts—not force. Bullets and abductions are not tools of public communication,” the statement said.

“SOLDIERS NOW ACTING LIKE KIDNAPPERS?”
In one of its most explosive assertions, HURIWA warned that the Army’s actions mirror the same tactics used by criminal kidnapping gangs terrorising Nigerians:

Sudden seizure without notice
Absence of due process:

Detention outside lawful frameworks
“When soldiers begin to act like kidnappers, the state loses its moral authority to fight actual kidnappers,” HURIWA warned.
NATIONAL SECURITY OR RAW ABUSE OF POWER?
While the Army claims the activist was involved in acts capable of inciting discontent within the ranks, HURIWA dismissed the justification as “dangerously elastic and open to abuse.”
The group insisted that national security cannot be used as a blanket excuse for illegality, warning that such reasoning opens the door to authoritarian excesses.
ULTIMATUM ISSUED
HURIWA issued a set of hard demands:
Immediate and unconditional release of the activist

Full disclosure of the legal basis for his arrest*

Disciplinary action against officers involved*
A binding commitment to end military interference in civilian affairs
“THIS IS HOW DEMOCRACIES DIE”
In its closing salvo, HURIWA warned that Nigeria is inching toward a dangerous tipping point where the rule of law is replaced by the rule of force.
“Today it is one activist. Tomorrow it could be any Nigerian. This is how democracies die—when guns override the Constitution,” the group declared.
The rights body vowed to mobilise legal, civic, and public pressure until what it called “this culture of impunity is decisively confronted.”

By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

Inmates awaiting trials at the Minna old Correctional Custody are being conveyed to courts on Keke napep and commercial vehicles due to lack of Green maria to convey them to court. Investigations have revealed.

The green maria,according to our findings conducted at Minna old Correctional Custody, revealed that the two functional vehicles have broken down for past two years without been repaired

The Chief Judge of Niger State,Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik had in March,2026, purchased four tyres for the broken down only functioning water tanker in the Minna old Medium Security Custodial facility.

Our reporter in Minna was told that the water tanker has been jack on top of stone for the past three years,due to lack of tires forcing the inmates to source water from some public boreholes in Minna until the Chief Judge bought the four tires that brought the tanker back to the road.

Also, the only functioning borehole in the Medium Custodial Centre has dried up the same time the water tanker tires lost its four tires.

It was gathered that the development has forced the Niger State of command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NcoS),to park the vehicle which now resulted in conveying the inmates on trial to courts with kekenap and any other means of transportation.

Our Correspondent reliably gathered that,the immediate past governor of Niger State, now Senator Abubakar Sani Bello bought two of the green maria to the both correctional Custodies some times in 2016.

Investigations further revealed that the already parked green maria,is the only functional vehicle that conveys awaiting trials inmates to over 35 courts within and outside Minna the state capital.

“ The already parked and the then only functional vehicle conveys inmates to and from courts in Gwada,Kuta,Paiko,Beji, Sakinpawa Kafinkoro and other courts in Minna and environs.

“ We are in a serious mess since the green maria parked up. We have to convey them to court with an alternative means of transporting the inmates to courts within Minna.

“ In fact,we have no option . They have to be in court and we have to find any alternative means of conveying them to court. At times we have to engage the service of tricycle operators to convey them to court” a source close to one of the facilities in Minna who craved anonymity told our Correspondent.

In alternative,it was further gathered that inmates are now being conveyed to courts with the only existing official ambulance that is to convey patients to hospital against the green maria.

The spokesman Niger State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, (NCoS) Mallam Rabiu Shaibu Mohammed CSC,while confirming the development,appealed to well to individuals and corporate entities in the state,to extend their kind hearted gesture to the command with functional green maria to safeguard the movement of inmates to courts.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer, Minna

In a renewed push to curb the spread of illegal weapons, the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) has strengthened collaboration with the Minna Emirate to tackle the growing threat of illicit small arms and light weapons in Niger State North Central Nigeria.

This formed the focus of a sensitization and courtesy visit by the North Central Zonal Director of the Centre, Abdul Adamu Eneche, who led his management team to the palace of the Emir of Minna, Umar Faruq Bahago.

The visit aimed to deepen cooperation and raise awareness on the dangers posed by the proliferation of illegal weapons across Niger State and the North Central region. The Emir warmly received the delegation in the presence of members of his cabinet.

Speaking during the meeting, Eneche conveyed goodwill from the Director General of the Centre, Johnson Babatunde Kokumo. He explained that the Centre was established through a Presidential Executive Order in 2021 and later backed by law in 2024 to regulate and control small arms and light weapons in Nigeria. He added that the Centre operates under the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The Zonal Director identified key security challenges facing the country, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, and communal conflicts. He stressed that the widespread availability of illegal weapons continues to fuel these threats.

According to him, earlier efforts to address the problem were weakened by poor coordination, which led to the establishment of the Centre as a more structured and unified body to handle the challenge effectively.

Eneche also highlighted the critical role of traditional institutions in intelligence gathering. He urged the Emir and other traditional leaders to use their closeness to the people to report suspicious activities and the presence of illegal arms. He added that the Centre collaborates with security agencies, conducts public sensitization, and maintains a national database on small arms.

He further noted that illegal weapons enter the country through porous borders and are also produced locally by illicit blacksmiths, whose activities are becoming more advanced.

In his response, the Emir of Minna described the partnership as timely and necessary. He emphasized that addressing the spread of illegal arms requires strong collaboration with traditional rulers, who are deeply connected to their communities.

The Emir expressed concern over the increasing presence of illegal weapons in his domain and commended the Centre for its efforts. He pledged full support to NCCSALW through public awareness campaigns, reporting of suspicious activities, and discouraging the local production and misuse of arms.