Police defend handling of Kaduna journalist’s alleged defamation case

The Kaduna State Police Command has defended its handling of the case involving Nagarta Radio journalist, Farida Isiak, who was arrested and sentenced for allegedly defaming the police force, an officer, and his family through a Facebook post. The command stated that the incident should not be viewed solely as an attempt to suppress press freedom, emphasizing the importance of considering the circumstances surrounding the dispute.

In a statement, the Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, highlighted that the matter arose from a Facebook post where Isiak made comments about the Nigeria Police Force, the officer in question, and his family. The statement also noted that the Commissioner of Police intervened to facilitate an amicable resolution of the matter, aiming to maintain a cordial relationship between the police command and journalists.

The police command expressed concern over reports that condemned the police without adequate verification or an opportunity for the command to respond, urging journalists to uphold the principles of accuracy, fairness, balance, and responsible journalism.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.