The Gwagwalada Police Division has reportedly detained and brutalized Mr. Manasseh, a journalist with Chronicles Reporters, following the publication of a story alleging financial impropriety involving the Area Council Chairman and Mr. Ezekiel, a chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The report, published earlier this week, alleged that the council chairman had awarded several contracts to Ezekiel and that both men were involved in siphoning public funds from the council.
Sources said that following the publication, Ezekiel called the journalist to deny the allegations, insisting instead that the council chairman owed him over ₦200 million as of yesterday. However, less than 24 hours after that conversation, Manasseh was reportedly arrested and taken to the Gwagwalada Police Division, where he was allegedly subjected to physical assault and harassment.
Observers have criticized the arrest as a gross abuse of power and a violation of due process, noting that if Ezekiel or any other party believed the report was defamatory, the lawful step would have been to file a defamation suit in court, not to resort to police intimidation.
When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Gwagwalada Division, Hamza, confirmed that Manasseh was in custody but declined to provide further details, saying the matter was under investigation.
Human rights advocates and media professionals have condemned the incident, describing it as a serious attack on press freedom and a worrying example of how law enforcement is being used to suppress critical journalism in Nigeria.