A prominent Kano-based journalist, Ibrahim Dan’uwa Rano, has been detained by the police at the Zonal Police Headquarters, Kano, following a petition lodged by Abdullahi Rogo, the embattled Director-General of Protocol to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
According to reports by Daily Nigeria, Mr. Rano’s arrest stems from allegations of defamation of character made by Mr. Rogo, who is currently under investigation by both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over a ₦6.5 billion corruption scandal.
Police Arrest Without Warrant
Sources disclosed that officers of the Nigerian Police stormed Mr. Rano’s office in Kano earlier this week and arrested him without presenting an arrest warrant. He was reportedly whisked away to the Zonal Police Command Headquarters where he was interrogated by senior officers over a recent episode of his popular online programme, Imalu.
During questioning, police investigators accused the journalist of publishing defamatory content aimed at tarnishing the image of the embattled DG, Mr. Rogo. They also questioned his operation of an online television platform without a National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) licence — an allegation Mr. Rano immediately refuted.
“Online Media Is Not Regulated by NBC”
In his defence, Mr. Rano reportedly explained that online media platforms do not fall under the regulatory scope of the NBC Act, as the commission’s mandate applies strictly to terrestrial and satellite broadcasting, not digital or web-based content.
Despite his explanation, the journalist was detained overnight in a police cell, allegedly on the direct orders of the Governor’s aide.
The “Imalu” Controversy
The controversy originated from a satirical segment of Mr. Rano’s programme Imalu, in which he discussed corruption within state government offices. In the episode, he referred to a “certain DG of Protocol” accused of collecting bribes in exchange for granting access to the governor.
Although Mr. Rano never mentioned any specific names, insiders said Mr. Rogo interpreted the remarks as a veiled reference to him and subsequently petitioned the police for defamation and character assassination.
In a bizarre twist, police investigators reportedly demanded that Mr. Rano “produce Imalu”, the fictional character from his programme, before they could consider releasing him.
“They said I should produce Imalu. I told them Imalu is a character in my show, not a real person. They insisted that unless I produce him, I won’t be released,” a source close to the detained journalist quoted him as saying.
No Official Police Statement Yet
As of press time, the Kano Zonal Police Command had not issued any official statement regarding the arrest or detention of the journalist. Efforts by colleagues and civil society groups to secure his release have reportedly been met with resistance from police authorities.
Media advocacy organisations, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), are said to be monitoring the situation closely. There are growing calls for Mr. Rano’s immediate release and for the police to respect press freedom as guaranteed under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which upholds the right to freedom of expression and the press.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among media professionals and human rights advocates, who view the arrest as a deliberate attempt to silence dissenting voices and intimidate journalists investigating corruption in the state.
Observers note that this development comes amid increasing tension in Kano’s political landscape, as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration faces multiple corruption-related allegations and internal controversies involving senior aides.
If confirmed, Mr. Rano’s detention would add to a growing list of media clampdowns in Nigeria, where journalists and online broadcasters continue to face harassment, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests for exposing alleged misconduct among political elites.
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