Human rights advocacy group, Amnesty International has condemned the alleged arrest and four-year prison sentence imposed on 23-year-old journalist, Farida Isiak, in Kaduna State, describing the development as an attempt to silence journalists and suppress freedom of expression.

The organisation, in a statement, alleged that Isiak’s arrest and sentencing were linked to a Facebook post in which she criticised the police over their treatment of her parents.

Isiak, a reporter with Nagarta Radio in Kaduna, was reportedly arrested at about 10:00 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 20, by police officers under the command of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Mararaban Jos, Usman Adamu.

According to Amnesty International, the incident began with a disagreement between Isiak’s mother and a neighbour over N100 change from a charcoal sale.

The organisation said the police initially arrested her mother and subsequently detained her father when he visited the station to secure her release.

It alleged that the parents’ detention was used to compel Isiak to report to the police station.

Amnesty International said that upon her arrival, the journalist was accused of defaming the police in a Facebook post criticising their alleged treatment of her parents.

It added that although she complied with the police’s demand to delete the post and apologise in the hope of securing her parents’ release, she remained in custody and was taken to a Sharia Court in Kawo.

The organisation said the court sentenced her to four years’ imprisonment or a fine of N1.75 million on a defamation charge.

It described the proceedings as a sham trial, alleging that the court failed to address the circumstances surrounding the initial police action against the journalist’s family.

Amnesty International said the arrest and sentencing raised concerns about the alleged abuse of police powers and the use of the judicial system to intimidate journalists.

It also condemned the alleged detention of Isiak’s parents as a means of compelling her to surrender to the police, describing the action as unlawful.

The organisation maintained that demanding accountability for police conduct was a constitutional right and urged Nigerian authorities to protect freedom of expression and press freedom.

It called on the Kaduna State Police Command and relevant judicial authorities to secure Isiak’s immediate release, drop the charges against her and cancel the fine imposed by the court.

Amnesty International also urged the Nigeria Police Force to conduct a full and independent investigation into the conduct of the officers involved in the incident.

It further called on Nigerian authorities to stop using defamation charges and legal processes to harass journalists and restrict press freedom.