Hundreds of residents, spanning all age groups, from the elderly to the youth, took to the streets of Jimeta on Wednesday, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Mallam Hussaini Gambo, popularly known as ‘Nakura’, the Chairman of the Adamawa Concerned Citizens group.
The protesters, waving placards and chanting slogans, decried what they described as a blatant violation of human rights and political persecution, insisting that “bail is free” for the activist’s bailable offences.
The demonstration, which brought Jimeta to a temporary standstill, was sparked by Nakura’s arrest on September 10, 2025, following a petition accusing him of defamation, intentional insults, abusive language, and inciting disturbance.
According to court proceedings at the Chief Magistrate’s Court II in Yola, Nakura has been remanded in prison custody despite the charges being bailable, with protesters alleging that stringent conditions and tactical manoeuvres by authorities have effectively denied him freedom.
Leading the protest was Comrade Abdulsalam Abubakar, a self-described human rights activist, who addressed the crowd and journalists during the protest.
”The Adamawa courts and police are violating the rights of its citizens by keeping Hussaini in prison unduly,” Abubakar declared. “His crime is bailable, but the court has imposed stringent conditions and used all tactical means to deny him bail.
This is a clear case of human rights abuse, and Hussaini is not guilty of any offense. We call on well-meaning Nigerians to join us in the fight against this injustice.”
Abubakar further alleged that the cyberbullying charges leveled against Nakura by Comrade Mustapha Salihu, the North East National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stem from “political gross hatred.”
He claimed Nakura’s only “crime” was holding those in positions of authority accountable, particularly through his activism in the Adamawa Concerned Citizens group.
”This is nothing but a vendetta,” Abubakar added, recalling specific instances where Nakura was accused of insulting the wife of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Aishatu Buhari; National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and Adamawa State Governor Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri. “The cyberbullying charges they are using are fabricated to bend the neck against him—it’s all political persecution.”
The protesters carried a barrage of placards bearing powerful inscriptions, including “Don’t kill your political opponents, free Hussaini Bello Gambo Nakura,” “Now is Gambo Nakura, who may be next? Free Mutumin Kirki, it’s politics,” “Free Gambo Nakura,” and “Justice for Hussaini Gambo Nakura.”
Chants of “Free Gambo Nakura” echoed through the streets as demonstrators called on the general public to help “rescue Hussaini from inhuman treatment.”
This is not the first time Nakura has clashed with authorities. As an outspoken APC faithful and critic, he has previously accused Governor Fintiri of partisanship in the distribution of federal palliatives in 2023 and faced a lawsuit in 2020 over an alleged forged voice recording involving the governor.
Stakeholders, including the Adamawa Concerned Citizens group, have condemned the current detention as evidence of shrinking civic space under the Fintiri administration, pointing fingers at high-profile figures like Ribadu, Aishatu Buhari, Salihu Mustapha, and the governor for orchestrating the ordeal.
The Adamawa State Police Command, in a statement, denied any unlawful detention, asserting that Nakura honored their invitation on September 10, was granted all legal rights, and the matter was charged to court the same day.
”At no point was Mallam Hussaini Gambo Nakura unlawfully detained,” the police emphasized, urging the public to disregard “misleading narratives” and affirming their commitment to justice and the rule of law.
As the protest dispersed peacefully, organizers vowed to escalate their campaign if Nakura is not released soon, warning of broader mobilization against what they see as an assault on free speech and accountability in Adamawa State.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between activists and political figures in Nigeria’s Northeast, where criticisms of governance often lead to legal battles.
