Odita Sunday 
HURIWA Seeks Immediate Release of Journalist Farida Isiak After Four-Year Jail Sentence
By Odita Sunday
The reported sentencing of a 23-year-old journalist to four years in prison over a social media post criticising police conduct has drawn condemnation from the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), which is demanding her immediate and unconditional release.
The journalist, Farida Isiak, who works with Nagarta Radio in Kaduna, was reportedly sentenced by a Sharia Court in Kawo after being accused of defamation over a Facebook post concerning the alleged treatment of her parents by police officers.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 22, 2026, HURIWA described the case as disturbing and called on the relevant judicial authorities to urgently review the proceedings.
The statement, signed by the association’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, said the circumstances surrounding Isiak’s arrest and prosecution raised serious concerns about press freedom, police accountability and the protection of citizens’ rights.
According to Amnesty International, the incident began with a dispute between Isiak’s mother and a neighbour over ₦100 change from a charcoal sale.
Amnesty International alleged that police officers subsequently detained Isiak’s mother and later arrested her father when he went to the station to seek her release. The organisation said the detentions were allegedly used to pressure the journalist into reporting to the police.
Isiak was reportedly accused of defamation over a Facebook post in which she criticised the officers’ handling of the matter. Although she allegedly deleted the post and apologised, she remained in custody before being taken to court.
The court reportedly sentenced her to four years’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦1.75 million.
Reacting to the case, HURIWA argued that journalists should not face intimidation or imprisonment for raising concerns about the conduct of public officials.
The association urged the appropriate judicial authorities to review the sentence and take the necessary lawful steps to secure Isiak’s release. It also called for the withdrawal of any charges found to have resulted from retaliation against her criticism of police conduct.
HURIWA further called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Kaduna State Police Command to investigate the alleged detention of Isiak’s parents and the conduct of the officers involved.
It stressed that allegations of police misconduct should be investigated impartially, rather than allowing those who raise concerns to become targets of punitive action.
The association maintained that freedom of expression and press freedom were essential to democracy, warning that journalists would struggle to hold public institutions accountable if reporting alleged abuses exposed them to the threat of imprisonment.
While emphasising the need to respect due process, HURIWA said the allegations in Isiak’s case warranted urgent and transparent examination by the relevant authorities.
The association warned that leaving the matter unresolved could deepen public concerns about the treatment of journalists and ordinary citizens who challenge the conduct of security agencies.
“Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive if journalists are made to fear imprisonment for questioning the conduct of those entrusted with enforcing the law,” the statement said.
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