The arrest of Miss Vivian Bwehmana Matur has sparked outrage and calls for justice, with Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda leading the charge. Matur, who was detained over allegedly defamatory claims against the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, was reportedly trailed to Abuja by armed men from the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Nigeria Police. Her arrest has raised serious concerns about human rights violations.
Prof. Yilwatda expressed deep concern about the manner of her arrest, noting that she was detained alongside hardened criminals and subjected to serious violations of her privacy. “The confiscation of her phone, the deletion of her messages, and the unauthorized transfer of her personal data is a grave infringement on her fundamental rights,” Yilwatda said. He condemned the treatment Matur faced, calling it a clear case of gender-based violence and an abuse of power by law enforcement.
“We cannot allow innocent citizens to suffer such injustice,” Yilwatda stated, emphasizing that the treatment of Miss Matur was not only unlawful but also targeted based on her vulnerability as a woman. He vowed to escalate the matter to the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the National Human Rights Commission, and other relevant authorities.
Yilwatda further called for a thorough investigation into the actions of the officers involved, noting that this incident reflects a disturbing pattern of arbitrary arrests in Plateau State. He also criticized the Office of the Attorney General for allegedly prosecuting innocent individuals unfairly, stating, “We demand legal action to hold those responsible accountable. No Nigerian should be subjected to such abuse of power.”
