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May 5, 2024
On March 29, a relative of Garba told SaharaReporters that Usman had been locked up at an underground cell in Abuja since his arrest in February.
The Nigerian Air Force has released one of its personnel detained over his comedy videos or skits on social media.
SaharaReporters learnt that Cpl A. I. Garba, detained since February this year, was released on Saturday night.
Garba is known for posting video content comparing US military officers with their counterparts in West African countries.
“Cpl Garba (NAF19) who was arrested for comedy skits a few months ago was released this night,” a top source told SaharaReporters.
On March 29, a relative of Garba told SaharaReporters that Usman had been locked up at an underground cell in Abuja since his arrest in February.
“It’s been over six weeks now that he has been in detention in Abuja. We were not granted access to him and he is medically unfit to be in detention because of his health record,” the family member told SaharaReporters.
In a signal dated February 13 seen by SaharaReporters, the Air Force accused Garba of violating the extant policy on the use of social media for the Armed Forces of Nigeria. This prompted his invitation for interrogation by relevant authorities.
His arrest came a few weeks after a Nigerian soldier stationed in Maiduguri, Borno State was arrested for expressing his frustration at being unable to visit his family because he could not afford the transport fare.
The soldier had in a trending video lamented how he spent one year in the bush in Borno and was given a pass to visit his family but could not go because his N50,000 salary could not take him to his destination and back.
He said he was told at the motor park that the transport fare to his town was N35,000, meaning that the trip would cost him N70,000 to and fro.
Speaking in pidgin English, the soldier said, "See wahala oo, the Nigerian Army gave me a pass as I spent one year in Maiduguri today, they gave me a pass to go and see my family.
"As I left the bush, I reached the park and they (transporters) told me that from here to my town is N35,000. I calculated it and going and coming back is N70,000 and N50,000 is my salary that I was paid this month.
“I don't have any option again; I'm going back to the bush.”
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