This action follows Tureta’s posting of a viral video featuring the governor’s wife’s lavish birthday celebration.
Shafi’u Umar Tureta, a social media critic, has been hastily sentenced to prison following the police arraignment believably on the orders of the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu.
This action follows Tureta’s posting of a viral video featuring the governor’s wife’s lavish birthday celebration.
The video’s sharing, while widely circulated, does not constitute a criminal offence, Amnesty International Nigeria has said.
The global human rights body argued that no one should be arrested solely for expressing opinions that differ from those of government officials.
Critics urge that the Sokoto State government should focus on more pressing issues rather than punishing critics.
The trend of incessant harassment of activists for their social media posts must end, reflecting a troubling pattern of suppressing free speech and democratic rights.
The statement reads, “Shafi’u Umar Tureta arrested unlawfully on the order of Governor Of Sokoto State Ahmed Aliyu has been hurriedly sent to prison, in what appears to be an attempt to punish him. Posting an already viral video of the lavish birthday party of the governor’s wife is not a crime.
“No one should be arrested solely for expressing an opinion that is contrary to that of the government or people in government. Growing intolerance of dissenting voices by those in positions of authority in Nigeria is another setback for the nation's human rights records.
“The Sokoto state government has many important issues to tackle — and punishing critics of the government is not one of them. This trend of the authorities’ never-ending harassment of activists for their social media posts must end.”
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Amnesty International Nigeria demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Umar Tureta who was arrested by heavily armed police in Sokoto State.
The critic was arrested for posting a viral video of Hajiya Fatima Aliyu, First Lady of Sokoto State lavish birthday party.
According to Amnesty International Nigeria, global human rights body in a statement on Monday, the arrest was carried out on the unlawful orders of the governor of Sokoto State, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto.
Tureta, known for his outspoken views on social media, shared footage of the extravagant celebration, which quickly gained attention online.
In response, the state government ordered his detention, raising concerns about freedom of expression in the region.