The United Intellectuals for Community Development Initiative (UNICODI) has called on the Katsina State Government to immediately and unconditionally release an Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria lecturer, Dr Bashir Kurfi Babangida, from police custody, urging the government to engage him in addressing the state’s growing insecurity.
The group’s National Chairman, Prof. Mohammed Mustapha Abubakar, made the call in a statement issued on Saturday, describing Kurfi’s arrest and prosecution as an attempt to silence a respected academic and advocate of peace.
Kurfi, who also serves as the Executive Director of the Network for Justice, was arraigned before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Katsina on July 8, 2026, on a two-count charge bordering on alleged defamation and injurious falsehood under Sections 308 and 309(1) of the Katsina State Penal Code Law.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was remanded in police custody until July 14, 2026, when the case is expected to resume.
Reacting to the development, UNICODI urged the state government to focus on tackling insecurity instead of prosecuting individuals who raise concerns over the situation.
“We call on the Katsina State Government to immediately release Dr Bashir Kurfi from police custody and engage him constructively in addressing the escalating insecurity bedevilling the state,” the statement read.
The organisation argued that the prosecution reflected “a pattern of repression rather than justice.”
“Instead of investigating the critical issues Dr Kurfi raised in the public interest, the state government has resorted to outright repression. This is a dangerous precedent that undermines democratic discourse and the right to free expression,” it stated.
Describing Kurfi as a distinguished scholar and peace advocate, UNICODI said his wealth of knowledge on security issues should be harnessed for the benefit of the state rather than suppressed.
“Dr Kurfi is a distinguished elder of Katsina State whose patriotism and commitment to peace, security and development are beyond question. He is one of the few nationally and internationally recognised activists with the courage to speak truth to power,” the group said.
It added that Kurfi’s academic research on violent crimes in North-West Nigeria had positioned him as an authority on the region’s security challenges.
According to the organisation, engaging the lecturer through dialogue would be more beneficial than pursuing legal action against him.
“Silencing a critic will not solve the security crisis that is claiming lives and displacing residents. Instead of prosecuting Dr Kurfi, the government should engage him positively and respectfully to tap into his vast knowledge and experience to restore peace to the state,” the statement added.
UNICODI further urged the Katsina State Government to demonstrate humility and statesmanship in handling the matter, citing the Hausa proverb, “Durkusawa wada ba gajiyawa bane,” as a reminder of the importance of constructive engagement in resolving the state’s security challenges.
