AJAG condemns detention of journalist Nasiru Yelwa, demands immediate release
Story from Ibraheem El-Tafseer
The African Journalists Against Genocide (AJAG) has called for the immediate release of Nasiru Hassan Yalwa, a journalist with Iran Press, who was arrested while covering a Maulud procession in Abuja on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
In a strongly worded statement released on Sunday, the pan-African coalition of senior journalists from over 30 countries decried the arrest as unjust, noting that Yalwa was performing his legitimate duties when officers of the Nigeria Police Force detained him.
“Nasiru was arrested while carrying out the important work of journalism. His continued detention without charge or explanation is not only unlawful but a gross violation of press freedom,” the statement read.
AJAG revealed that efforts by Yelwa’s legal representatives to secure his release have been unsuccessful, as police authorities have refused to provide any justification for his arrest.
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According to the group, the journalist’s family has also demanded an explanation for the arrest, but no official response has been given by the police.
Describing the incident as an attack on democratic values and freedom of the press, AJAG warned that arbitrary arrests and harassment of journalists should not be tolerated in any democratic society.
“We strongly condemn all acts of intimidation and brutality against journalists whose work is protected by the Nigerian Constitution. Journalism is not a crime,” AJAG stated.
The group urged the Nigeria Police Force to uphold the rule of law and immediately release Nasiru Yalwa without further delay.
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