The United Intellectuals for Community Development Initiative (UNICODI) has condemned the arrest and detention of Dr. Bashir Kurfi Babangida, a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Executive Director of the Network for Justice, calling on the Katsina State Government to release him immediately and engage his expertise in addressing the state’s worsening security challenges.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Prof. Mohammed Mustapha Abubakar, UNICODI described Dr. Kurfi’s detention as a setback to democratic engagement, arguing that his contributions as a scholar and peace advocate should be harnessed rather than criminalized.
Dr. Kurfi was arraigned before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Katsina on July 8, 2026, on two counts of alleged defamation and injurious falsehood under Sections 308 and 309(1) of the Katsina State Penal Code. The charges followed his public comments on the government’s handling of insecurity. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in police custody until July 14 for the continuation of hearing.
UNICODI noted that the case has attracted criticism from Amnesty International, which reportedly described the arrest as arbitrary and an attack on freedom of expression, alleging it reflects a pattern of suppressing dissent rather than addressing concerns over insecurity.
The group argued that instead of prosecuting Dr. Kurfi, authorities should investigate the issues he raised and embrace constructive criticism as part of efforts to improve security in the state.
According to UNICODI, Dr. Kurfi is a respected academic and long-standing human rights advocate whose work has focused on peacebuilding and justice in Northern Nigeria. It cited his research on violent crime and its socio-economic impact in the North-West as evidence of his expertise in security-related issues.
The organisation further maintained that Katsina’s security challenges require collaboration with knowledgeable stakeholders rather than confrontation, stressing that silencing critical voices would not resolve the persistent attacks and displacement affecting communities.
UNICODI urged the state government to demonstrate statesmanship by discontinuing the prosecution, releasing Dr. Kurfi from custody, and engaging him in finding lasting solutions to insecurity.
Quoting the Hausa proverb, “Durkusawa wada ba gajiyawa bane” (humility is not a sign of weakness), the group appealed to the government to embrace dialogue and leverage Dr. Kurfi’s experience in the interest of peace and development.