A Kaduna-based trader, Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Comrade Danhabu, who was arrested over a Facebook post criticising Governor Uba Sani’s alleged failure to implement President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the withdrawal of police officers from VIP protection duties, has been released.
A credible source confirmed to SaharaReporters that Danhabu regained his freedom on Wednesday.
Danhabu, who trades in phone accessories, was arrested in the first week of December after making a social media post questioning why senior officials in the Kaduna State Government continued to enjoy police escorts despite the presidential order restricting such protection to only the president, vice president, governors, and their deputies.
According to sources familiar with the matter, his Facebook post named officials such as commissioners, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the Chief of Staff, and other top government functionaries as beneficiaries of continued police protection.
Two days after publishing the post, Danhabu was reportedly arrested at his place of business and taken to the Kaduna State Police Headquarters. Family sources disclosed that he was interrogated by the Commissioner of Police, who allegedly ordered his detention after receiving a phone call during the interrogation.
“While questioning him, the Commissioner of Police received a call, and immediately after that, he instructed officers to detain Danhabu,” a family source said.
The source further alleged that Danhabu was subsequently taken before a Magistrate Court rather than a High Court, where he was ordered to be remanded in custody until January 13, 2026.
“We believe the order came from above. He was taken to a Magistrate Court the next day, and the judge made the remand order in chambers,” the source added.
Danhabu’s arrest sparked concern among his family members, who noted that he is married with two children and that his elderly mother, said to be in poor health, was deeply distressed by his detention.
In the Facebook post that led to his arrest, Danhabu criticised what he described as the Kaduna State Government’s continued use of police escorts for officials, questioning whether the governor was aware that such practices allegedly violated the President’s directive on VIP security withdrawal.
The circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention have raised concerns among rights advocates over freedom of expression and the use of law enforcement agencies to silence dissenting voices.
