Ruqaiya Aliyu Jibia, a Katsina-based journalist, has accused Gambo Isah, Public Relations Officer of the Katsina State Police Command, of assaulting her.

Jibia, in a video posted on her Tiktok page @rukkyjibia on Thursday, said she challenged the police for branding and parading young girls as prostitutes without a court verdict.

She said she recorded a Tiktok video condemning the move by the police, and demanding adherence to constitutional provisions. Isah called her a day after the video was published, and dubbed her a criminal.

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She said he invited her to the palace of an emir, whose name she did not disclose, but before she got to his palace, Isah and his policemen ambushed her, beat her and dragged her to the palace where he would get the blessing of the emir to prosecute her.

In Thursday’s video, Jibia said, “Few days back, the Nigerian police, Katsina State Command, paraded four suspects, young ladies between the ages of 19 and 21, claiming that they were into prostitution.

“Upon seeing that video, I recorded a Tiktok video on my personal Tiktok page where I quoted a section in Nigeria’s constitution, and suggested to the police that they should have taken the girls to court, until they have [sic] been proven guilty before they are [sic] paraded to the press.

“The next day, I received a call from the PPRO, Gambo Isah, inviting me to the emir’s palace. I was on my way to the emir’s palace when Gambo Isah and his boys came with four cars, blocked my way, dragged me out of my car, and they broke my phone. I sustained injuries. They dragged me to the emir’s palace.

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“Upon reaching the emir’s palace, Gambo Isah then narrated to the emir that I was responsible for looking down on the police and undermining their authority. He said I was also responsible for sabotaging their work, and the emir asked Isah to remand me.

“When I was taken to court, fortunately the Kadi (presiding judge) was not around. It was late, so I was taken to Area Command. After spending about five hours, my lawyer could secure my bail. I was asked to come back the next day.

“The next day, I went back and wrote my statement. I was asked again to come back the next day, which is today. I went there around 11 am this morning, and I was hoping that I would be taken to court. Unfortunately, the Area Commander told me that I would be taken to the police headquarters.

“My lawyer was not there at the time, I was so scared because of what happened between Gambo Isah and I the other day; he assaulted me. I was so I ran for my life. I am in hiding now because I know that my life is in danger now because the police are after me.

“I hope I would be granted justice because I was humiliated, and I was assaulted by the police.”

Reacting via Twitter, Isah accused Jibia of attacking the police on regular occasions.

He said, “My attention has been drawn to frivolous allegations made by one Ruqayya on TikTok. At the beginning I have no intentions of joining issues with her since I believe she is looking for cheap popularity to gain followers through her social media handles, especially the TikTok.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I want to set the records straight. Ruqayya has been using her social media handles to maliciously attack the Nigeria Police Force.”

Ojukwu is a reporter with FIJ in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.