By Ammar M. Rajab Journalist and member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nasir Hassan Yelwa, who was arrested by police while c...
By Ammar M. Rajab
Journalist and member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nasir Hassan Yelwa, who was arrested by police while covering a Maulid procession in Abuja, has been granted bail by an Abuja court. The trial is expected to resume in the coming days.
Yelwa, an independent correspondent with Iran Press, was apprehended by officers of the Nigerian Police Force on Tuesday, September 10, 2025, while covering a peaceful procession organised by members of the Islamic movement in Nigeria to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
According to eyewitnesses, Yelwa was invited to cover the religious gathering and was arrested around 2:00 p.m. in the Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory. He was reportedly taken to the Abattoir detention facility, a location previously used as the headquarters of the now-disbanded SARS unit.
At the time of the arrest, no formal charges were presented, and both the police and NUJ officials remained silent on the matter.
The arrest and continued detention of Yelwa sparked widespread condemnation, with the African Journalists Against Genocide (AJAG) issuing a strongly worded statement denouncing the act as a direct assault on press freedom.
“Nasiru was performing his lawful duties as a journalist when he was arrested. Despite efforts by his legal representative and family to secure his release, the police provided no charges or explanation for his detention,” AJAG stated.
Describing the arrest as “a violation of fundamental human rights and a blatant attempt to intimidate the press,” AJAG called for his immediate and unconditional release, warning that arbitrary arrests of journalists pose a serious threat to democracy.
“Journalism is not a crime,” AJAG reiterated. “Arresting and detaining journalists without charge is unlawful and unacceptable.”
Yelwa’s release on bail today was met with relief from colleagues and press freedom advocates. Present at the court were NUJ President Alhassan Yahaya, Danjuma Abdullahi of Press TV, and Comrade Yahaya M. Abdullahi, who accompanied him after the hearing.
The case is expected to continue in court soon, where Yelwa’s legal team will challenge the basis of his arrest and detention.
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