Gyengyer, a social media activist from Benue, was freed from prison.

Mr. Paul Gyengyer, a social media activist from Benue who was recently detained for defaming Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the governor of Benue State, has been released from the Makurdi Federal Correctional Center.

After being detained following her arrest in July, the teenage social media activist had been there for about two months.

A Markurdi Magistrate Court had remanded him in custody after charging him with disseminating false information that was harmful to the governor.

After posting on his Facebook page that Governor Alia had diverted the removal of gasoline subsidy palliatives intended for the state for personal use, Gyengyer was first detained in July.

Gyengyer filed a lawsuit against the Police for N200 million in damages following his arrest and imprisonment, claiming that he had been wrongfully held and mistreated, and he was entitled to immediate release.

The opposition Benue State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, publicity secretary, Mr. Bemgba Iortyom, verified his release from prison on Friday.

Gyengyer's arrest and purported treatment drew strong criticism in the state.