The Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has ordered the release of Hassan Kangiwa, a journalist who was detained after exposing the deplorable state of Kangiwa General Hospital.
Idris, aside from ordering the release of the young man, has also suspended the State Commissioner for Health, Yunusa Isma’il, over gross negligence and abandonment of duty within his ministry.
Kangiwa was released two days after his arrest for publishing a video showing the poor conditions at Kangiwa General Hospital.
The footage, which circulated widely on social media, depicted patients lying on bare metal beds without mattresses, putting both the state government and its health authorities under intense scrutiny.
The journalist’s detention triggered national outcry, with human rights activists speaking out against the action, ultimately prompting the governor to intervene and order his immediate release.
In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Yakubu Tafida on Friday, the commissioner’s suspension was described as “an immediate action to restore public confidence.”
The statement also directed the embattled commissioner to defend himself against possible further sanctions.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore confirmed that the journalist had been released and compensated with ₦200,000, describing the incident as proof of how citizen action can push back against bad governance.
“Instead of fixing the hospital, the authorities first chose to silence the whistleblower, but this shows that small acts of resistance can spark bigger change,” Sowore said.
Reacting to the government’s action, residents of Kangiwa town said the commissioner’s suspension was not enough, adding that the governor should impose a stricter penalty.
“We need more than punishment; our hospitals need real reform,” one local resident told reporters, insisting that healthcare workers and patients continue to suffer.
The Kebbi hospital saga has reignited calls for urgent investment in Nigeria’s health sector, with Nigerians, especially those on social media, warning that similar conditions exist in hospitals across the country.
Many insist that governors and state health ministries must go beyond cosmetic reforms if citizens are to regain trust in public institutions.
