'Pompo' Detained; Family Fears Opposition Crackdown — Kaduna Governor Sani Critic

Security agents have apprehended Jonah Bonnet, widely recognized in Kaduna State as 'Pompo' and a prominent critic of Governor Uba Sani. Confirmation of his arrest came from his brother, Mark Bonnet. Additionally, Marafa Tsoriyang, a high-ranking member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), verified the incident, stating that the party is closely observing the situation and plans to release an official statement.

Bonnet's family reported that he was taken into custody at approximately 8:30 p.m. at his Abuja home, just moments after he arrived back. They recounted that as his wife opened the gate, operatives swiftly intervened, forcibly removing him from his car. The family further claimed that the security personnel seemed to have been monitoring his movements prior to the apprehension.

Mr. Bonnet has consistently voiced strong objections regarding the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections within Kaduna State. He specifically accused Governor Sani of unilaterally imposing candidates, contradicting the Governor's public assurances that primaries would proceed if aspirants couldn't reach a consensus. This disagreement led Bonnet to resign from the APC and subsequently join the NDC, where he secured the party's nomination to contest for the Kaduna State House of Assembly seat for Kaura Constituency.

The family also expressed concerns that Bonnet is being transported to Kaduna, where they believe he will be held and charged, viewing this as part of an alleged wider suppression of opposition figures. This incident occurs amidst ongoing worries surrounding the prolonged detention of Mycah Dangata, another government critic, who has reportedly been held for almost two weeks. Dangata's detention followed the emergence of a video where he encouraged voters to cast their ballots against President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sani in the upcoming 2027 elections.