Usman Sabo, a youth from Bauchi State, has reportedly been detained by police after criticizing Babangida Ishaq, popularly known as Maliya, the Chairman of Shira Local Government Area.
According to Daily Trust, a family source revealed that Sabo was arrested by officers from the GRA Police Division on Friday following Facebook posts where he accused the chairman of neglecting the local government football team and delaying workers’ salaries. He was subsequently taken to Bauchi.
Another source suggested the arrest may be politically motivated, noting that Sabo is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Ishaq belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In his Facebook posts, Sabo condemned the chairman for allegedly failing to sponsor the Shira Local Government football team in the Kaura Unity Cup, an inter-local government competition. He also criticized Ishaq for delays in paying salaries and for attempting to evict government workers from staff housing.
Sabo wrote, “Power is transient. Before you, there were about five local government chairmen. After you, many will come. It is wrong to oppress people just because we are their leaders.”
He added, “In Shira local government, some workers are yet to receive their July salary. They are being owed allegedly because they don’t go to work. We are in the rainy season. Do you want people to abandon their farms?”
Regarding the housing issue, he stated, “It is wrong to give notice to workers occupying government houses… Those in active service have every right to occupy the houses.”
Sabo further accused the local government of refusing to fund the football team’s travel, saying, “God has afflicted us with a leader who does not do what is right.”
The arrest has drawn criticism from lawyer Mukhtar Muhammad, who described it as oppressive. He argued that police should protect citizens rather than serve as “attack dogs for corrupt leaders,” adding that police did not even review Sabo’s posts before detaining him.
“This is nothing but oppression, plain and simple,” Muhammad said. “As long as shameless politicians keep using the police as their personal weapon against anyone who dares to speak the truth, things will never change in this country.”
In response, Shira Local Government Chairman Babangida Ishaq said Sabo was arrested for spreading falsehoods aimed at damaging his reputation and administration. He denied neglecting the football team, stating he personally donated N500,000 and arranged transport, but the team was unable to attend the tournament.
Ishaq also acknowledged housing challenges for some directors who are non-indigenes and said those asked to vacate government quarters were given two months’ notice with plans to provide government-paid rent for two years.
On salary delays, Ishaq said payments were withheld only from staff who failed to report to work, after investigations uncovered ghost workers. He noted that this included relatives of politicians from his own party, the PDP.
