A Kaduna-based journalist with Nagarta Radio, Farida Isiak, and her parents have reportedly been detained by police in Mararaban Jos, Kaduna State, following a dispute over N100 change from a charcoal sale, according to family sources.
Isiak, 23, was reportedly taken into custody at about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, hours after her parents had been detained over the disagreement.
The dispute began on Monday, October 19, when Isiak's mother sold N400 worth of charcoal to a girl sent by a neighbour. The girl paid N500, but the mother reportedly asked her to return later for the N100 balance because she had no change. Family sources said the outstanding amount was subsequently paid.
The following day, the neighbour reportedly bought another N400 worth of charcoal, paid N500 and demanded N200 in change, claiming that she had not received the previous day's N100 balance. Isiak's mother maintained that the earlier balance had already been settled.
The disagreement escalated after the neighbour allegedly insulted her and called her sister. The two women reportedly attempted to force their way into the mother's house, prompting her to threaten to pour hot water on them. They subsequently left.
According to family sources, the women later returned with police officers, who arrested Isiak's mother.
Isiak, who was at work at the time, subsequently published a Facebook post criticising the police handling of the incident.
Her father, who reportedly returned from Zaria to secure his wife's release, was also detained when he went to the police station, the family said.
Family sources further alleged that police officers asked Isiak to report to the station and delete her Facebook post. Upon her arrival, she was reportedly accused of defaming the police and instructed to remove the post and apologise to the Divisional Police Officer, Usman Adamu.
The sources said Isiak complied with the demands but was nevertheless detained and informed that she could face legal action.
Kaduna State Police Command spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, reportedly provided the DPO's contact details to Premium Times for further enquiries. However, when contacted, Adamu reportedly ended the call, saying a journalist could not speak to him over the telephone.
As of the time of the original report, Isiak remained in custody. The police have yet to provide a detailed public account of the incident in the information available for this report.
Isiak, also identified in the source material as Faridat Isiak, is an alumna of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, where she studied Mass Communication.
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