The Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, has ordered the release of journalist Hassan Mai-Waya Kangiwa, who was arrested after revealing the shocking condition of Kangiwa General Hospital.
Kangiwa, whose video of patients lying on bare metal hospital beds without mattresses went viral earlier this week, was freed following widespread outrage over his detention.
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, disclosed on Friday that the journalist was also compensated with ₦200,000 for the unlawful detention.
The viral footage sparked anger across social media, showing patients in dire conditions without mattresses, pillows, or basic medical facilities.
The clip, which many Nigerians described as a “shameful reflection of the healthcare system,” forced state authorities to respond.
Reacting to the public backlash, Governor Idris also suspended the Commissioner for Health, Yunusa Isma’il, citing negligence and failure to uphold his responsibilities.
The suspension, announced by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Bala Tafida, took immediate effect.
“The Governor has directed the suspended Commissioner to explain why further disciplinary action should not follow, having abandoned the duties entrusted to him,” the statement read.
Speaking on the development, Sowore commended those who amplified the journalist’s story, stressing that the incident highlights the courage needed to confront bad governance.
“Instead of fixing the hospital, the authorities first chose to silence the whistleblower,” Sowore said. “It only shows how little acts of resistance can push society closer to real change.”
Residents in Kebbi have since called for urgent rehabilitation of public hospitals in the state, warning that the suspension of one official is not enough to address the larger crisis.
“This should not end with suspension,” a resident of Kangiwa town told reporters. “We need a complete overhaul of our hospitals, because ordinary citizens are the ones suffering daily.”
The Kebbi incident has reignited national debates about the poor state of Nigeria’s healthcare system, with campaigners urging other state governments to prioritise hospital infrastructure and accountability.