Katsina: Army, DSS Personnel Harass Daily Episode Journalist

Personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) and an army officer allegedly harassed Daily Episode Journalist Abubakar Ismail Kankara while covering the story of 64 students from Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Batagarawa, in Katsina State, who were recently hospitalised after drug administration exercise.

The incident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

Kankara, who visited the school to document the school’s entrance gate, was prevented from filming by a security guard acting on the instructions of the school principal.

The journalist requested that the principal be called for the permissions to film the school gate; the principal made his earlier stand and asked the security to deny the journalist access to film the school entrance.

However, while the journalist was trying to depart the location, a bus arrived carrying a soldier and some DSS personnel, who allegedly ordered his arrest and the seizure of his equipment

Oppon dragging the journalist to the school premises, the duo question the journalist’s presence at the location, which he explained that he was there to cover the incident involving the hospitalised students.

The personnel warned him against approaching the location to film or document any story, explaining that they were training members of the Katsina Community Watch Corps.

Kankara alleged that DSS personnel threatened to beat him and ordered him to crouch on the ground, while military personnel threatened to deal decisively with him if they encountered him at the scene again.

The journalist could not capture the names of the personnel.

He was later freed and given back his items after his phone and camera were searched.