A Minna-based human rights journalist, Ahmed Isah Sapke, popularly known as Ahmed Lee, has been detained by the Nigeria Police following a petition linked to a political controversy involving an aide to Mohammed Umaru Bago, Governor of Niger State.
SUNTV Global Channel gathered that Lee, who works with Human Rights Radio, Crusaders Radio, and Prestige FM in Minna, was first invited by police on February 13, 2026. He was granted bail the same day and asked to return on Monday. However, upon his return on February 16, he was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Minna.
Sources revealed that his detention followed the publication of a press statement issued by a group known as Niger South Youths. The statement, signed by Comrade Yahaya Ibrahim, called for an investigation into alleged misconduct by Mohammed Gimba, a protocol aide to Governor Bago.
The youth group accused the aide of intimidation, abuse of office, and attempts to coerce political stakeholders during an ongoing senatorial contest. They also alleged he used his position to threaten individuals who refused to support his preferred candidate.
Before publishing the statement on his media platforms, Lee reportedly contacted Gimba in line with journalistic ethics. The aide denied all allegations, insisting he neither attended any party meeting nor threatened anyone.
Sources say tensions escalated days later during a meeting involving the journalist, the youth group, and intermediaries, which ended without resolution. Police subsequently demanded that Lee disclose the identities of the statement’s authors — a request he reportedly declined, stating their names were already included in the published document.
His detention is believed to have followed a formal petition reportedly filed by lawyers representing the protocol officer.
The youth group had, in its statement, called for the aide’s resignation, an independent investigation into the allegations, and assurances of free political participation without intimidation.
As of the time of filing this report, police authorities have not issued an official statement explaining the grounds for Lee’s continued detention.
