The Arewa Youth Ambassadors (AYA) have filed a formal petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, demanding the immediate release of Mrs. Jamila Ibrahim and her infant daughter, who have been held without trial at Suleja Correctional Centre, Niger State, since March 28, 2025.
In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Comrade Yahaya M. Abdullahi, the group expressed deep concern and outrage, describing the arrest and continued detention of the nursing mother and her child as a gross violation of fundamental human rights and a breach of constitutional principles.
The group explained that Mrs. Ibrahim, a tailor by profession, was apprehended during a security operation at Wuse Market in Abuja following a peaceful procession reportedly associated with the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN). According to the statement, she was merely shopping for tailoring materials during the Sallah period and had her one-month-old baby with her at the time. The group stressed that Mrs. Ibrahim has no affiliation with the IMN.
Several months later, AYA noted, both mother and child remain in detention, with no formal charges filed against them or any legal proceedings initiated. The group stated that the prolonged incarceration is not only illegal but also inhumane.
AYA revealed that the detained infant is now in critical condition due to lack of medical attention, while both mother and child are suffering from malnutrition. The child’s father, Mr. Musbau Soliu, allegedly disclosed that law enforcement officers have demanded bribes exceeding ₦250,000 under false pretenses, promising the release of his wife and child.
The organization condemned the situation as a blatant abuse of rights protected under Chapter IV of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, the Child Rights Act, and several international legal instruments, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The youth group demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Jamila Ibrahim and her baby, along with a comprehensive public inquiry into the role of the officers involved in her detention and the alleged extortion of her husband.
Among other demands put forward by AYA were disciplinary measures against implicated law enforcement officers, particularly those accused of soliciting bribes, as well as immediate medical and psychological care for the detained mother and child.
They also called for a formal apology from the Nigeria Police Force to the affected family, and a review of all detentions arising from the March 2025 protest, which reportedly led to the arrest of numerous women and children without due process.
Describing the ongoing detention as “unconstitutional, unacceptable, and a disgrace to Nigeria’s justice system,” the group issued a stern warning that the nation must not continue to mistreat its most vulnerable citizens.
The statement ended with a direct appeal to the Inspector-General of Police and the Minister of Justice, stressing that “justice delayed is justice denied,” and that the ongoing case represents a disturbing instance where justice has not only been delayed, but also “abused, perverted, and silenced.”
AYA pledged to continue speaking out for the voiceless and pushing for accountability from the nation’s security agencies until justice is served.
Earlier, Chronicles Reporters had reported that Mrs. Jamila Ibrahim and her then one-month-old baby were arrested in March 2025 during a Shiite protest and had since remained in custody at Suleja Correctional Centre, without being charged to court.
It was gathered that Jamila was arrested at Wuse Market by Nigerian police officers during a demonstration allegedly organized by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as the Shiites. The protest began peacefully at Usman Bin Affan Mosque in Wuse 2, Abuja, but was violently dispersed by security forces firing live rounds.
Since her arrest during the protest, Jamila Ibrahim has remained incarcerated with no trial or legal proceedings initiated against her.
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