Ahmed Isah, host of Brekete Family, shuts down Human Rights Radio in protest against minors’ detention from #EndBadGovernance protests.
Ahmed Isah, the well-known broadcaster and activist behind the Brekete Family programme on Human Rights Radio and Television, ordered an immediate shutdown of the popular show on Monday in protest against the recent detention of minors following the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations.
Isah, known as the “Ordinary President” to his followers, made the announcement live on air, citing his dismay at the treatment of detained children.
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This decision follows a national outcry after 76 protesters, including minors, were arraigned at an Abuja Federal High Court on Friday.
The group, arrested in multiple states—including Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano—faced charges ranging from treason to public disturbance.
Many detainees collapsed while awaiting their hearing, and each defendant’s bail was set at ₦10 million. The court granted the prosecutor’s request to drop charges against those who collapsed in court.
Isah, who usually anchors Brekete Family every weekday, was notably absent from the studio on Monday morning, describing himself as “shocked” by the conditions faced by the minors in detention.
Calling into the programme at around 8:20 a.m., he ordered an immediate cessation of broadcasting as a form of protest. He urged Nigerians to unite against what he called the unjust treatment of young protesters.
“Terminate the programme, and this is part of our protest,” Isah announced. “Tell every complainant to go home. The government should do the right thing.”
He added that Brekete Family would suspend its usual programming and instead open the phone lines, allowing Nigerians worldwide to voice their views on the minors’ release.
Isah’s decision has amplified international scrutiny of the Nigerian government’s handling of peaceful protests and intensified calls for the unconditional release of the detained children.
Many advocacy groups, both locally and internationally, have condemned the government’s actions, raising concerns about human rights violations and the growing need for accountability in law enforcement practices.
This bold stance from Brekete Family, a programme known for addressing citizens’ grievances and championing human rights, underscores the mounting demand for justice and reform within Nigeria’s judicial system.
