Kebbi Scandal: Journalist Jailed After Exposing Patient on Bare Bed Sparks National Outrage

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Kebbi State is at the center of national outrage after journalist Hassan Mai-Waya Kangiwa was reportedly arrested for exposing the appalling reality inside Kangiwa General Hospital.

In a video that quickly went viral, an elderly patient was seen lying helplessly on a bare iron bed frame with no mattress, a heartbreaking image that many Nigerians say captures the decay of the nation’s healthcare system.

But instead of addressing the dire conditions, authorities allegedly chose to punish the messenger. The arrest has drawn heavy condemnation from press freedom advocates and citizens who accuse the government of caring more about its image than the suffering of ordinary people.

“This is beyond shameful,” one commentator wrote online. “Hospitals are collapsing, patients are dying in misery, and yet the messenger is the one being punished.”

The scandal comes amid repeated failures in Nigeria’s public health sector. Patients in many areas are forced to buy drugs outside hospitals, bring their own beddings, or share scarce medical equipment. Doctors have repeatedly gone on strike over poor facilities and unsafe working conditions, while corruption and mismanagement siphon off funds meant for the people.

Amnesty International Nigeria condemned the arrest, describing it as an “arbitrary arrest and detention” and demanding the journalist’s immediate release. The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) also expressed outrage, warning that silencing reporters sets a dangerous precedent for accountability in the country.

The case is now drawing international attention. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) are expected to weigh in, with analysts warning that Nigeria’s press freedom record could come under fresh global scrutiny.

Hassan Mai-Waya’s case is not unique. Nigerian journalists such as Agba Jalingo, arrested in 2019 for exposing alleged government corruption in Cross River State, and Luka Binniyat, detained in 2021 for reporting on insecurity in Kaduna, have faced similar intimidation. Critics say this reflects a troubling pattern: instead of fixing systemic problems, authorities go after those who dare to reveal them.

Now, pressure is mounting on Kebbi State authorities to release the journalist and address the hospital scandal. Civil society groups, health advocates, and press unions are warning that failure to act could spark nationwide protests and further international condemnation.

For many Nigerians, the arrest has become a powerful symbol of a broken system — one where exposing the truth is punished more harshly than neglecting citizens’ health. Global eyes are now on Nigeria, and citizens are demanding one thing: free the journalist, fix the hospitals, and stop silencing the truth.