The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has criticised Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf over the arrest of two journalists, Buhari Abba, an online editor with Kano Times, and Ismail Auwal, a freelance journalist.

A statement on Friday by NUJ’s national secretary, Achike Chude, disclosed that the police detained the journalists over a report critical to the state’s Commissioner of Information, Ibrahim Waiya.

“We were distressed to learn of the arrests of two journalists by the police in Kano State ostensibly on the order of the commissioner of Information Ibrahim Waiya.

“The police arrested Buhari Abba, an online publisher, and Ismail Auwal, a freelance journalist, over a report deemed critical to the Commissioner,” it said.

The union noted that the journalists arrested did not commit any offence that could have led to their arrest. It said their arrest was an attack on press freedom, as they only expressed their opinion.

“We can assure your Excellency that the two journalists in question did not contravene any law that they could be charged with except that they expressed an opinion that someone did not agree with,” the NUJ said.

The union said that before Mr Yusuf assumed office as the governor, the media and the state government had been quite cordial and mutually respectful.

The NUJ demanded the immediate release of the two journalists and called on the governor to end the intimidation of pressmen in the state.

It reaffirmed its commitment to upholding professional ethics, holding the government and its officials accountable, and urged the governor to do the same at all levels.

“We will continue to do that with respect and maturity and, most importantly, give all sides a fair hearing and, if possible, constructively engage with the state government in its mission of making the state better for all.

“May your Excellency continue to give us his hand in fellowship even as we ask your Excellency to prevail on your officials to show expected respect for journalists,” the union stated.

Meanwhile, Peoples Gazette could not immediately reach ‎Abdullahi Kiyawa, the Kano State police spokesperson, for comments on the arrest.